MBEERE, Embu, April 17 – Residents of Mbeere South are beginning to feel the social and economic impact of the ongoing Kamburu Dam Water Supply Project, with local workers praising the initiative for creating jobs and restoring hope in a region long plagued by water shortages.
Locals say the project has injected new economic energy into the community. Morris Waweru, a carpenter from Machang’a engaged at the site, notes that the development has created jobs for a wide range of skilled and unskilled workers, including masons and steel fixers.
“This project has helped us a lot. I work here as a carpenter, and there are many others; masons, steel fixers and other skilled and unskilled workers who have benefited,” he said.
According to the Tana Water Works Development Agency, the project is currently about 40 percent complete. It involves drawing raw water from the Kamburu Dam through a floating intake system, treating it at a modern facility, and distributing it to households and institutions in Mbeti South and Mavuria wards.
The infrastructure features a conventional treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres per day and is projected to serve approximately 100,000 residents at full capacity. So far, contractors say they have laid 17 kilometres of distribution pipelines and completed 12 kilometres of treated water rising-main linking the plant to a hilltop storage tank.
Once operational, the system is expected to reduce reliance on the Embu Water and Sanitation Company (EWASCO), which has struggled to meet growing demand, often resulting in rationing.
Roseline Wawira Mwaniki from Mavuria Ward explains that for years, women walked long distances to rivers, carrying heavy containers on their backs which is a strain that left many with chronic back problems. With water now closer to homes, families can plan better housing, including installing bathrooms without worrying about hauling water daily.
“This project has given us a double benefit because it has created jobs for local people like me, and at the same time it will bring water closer to our community.” Says Mwaniki.
Residents have also linked the project to broader development aspirations, expressing gratitude to President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for supporting water infrastructure in the region.
However, some community members are calling for expanded services, including electricity connectivity to underserved villages. They note that reliable power would further improve learning conditions for school children and support small businesses.
With completion targeted for August 2026, the Kamburu Dam Water Supply Project stands out as a transformative investment poised to reshape water access, livelihoods, and long-term development prospects in Embu County.
