By Kavinga Titus
Frustrated by years of unaddressed water shortages, residents of Kanyangi Ward in Kitui Rural took to the streets on Sunday to demand that the management of a newly constructed borehole at Kanyangi Primary School be handed over to a local Community-Based Organization (CBO) instead of Kitui Water and Sanitation Company (KITWASCO).
Led by community member Jones Musembi, the residents lamented that despite efforts spanning over three years to engage KITWASCO, the water crisis at Kanyangi Primary has persisted.
“This is our fourth meeting here. We have had problems of water shortage at Kanyangi Primary. We have tried to reach out to KITWASCO for a period of three years now but our cries have landed on deaf ears,” Musembi said during the demonstration.
The community acknowledged that the County Government under Governor Julius Malombe had intervened by drilling a borehole at the school. However, they claim that KITWASCO has denied them access to the water, allegedly demanding payment before they are allowed to use it.
“As we speak now, our children in this school have continued to suffer for lack of water for domestic use, yet we knew this problem would come to an end after the County Government drilled the borehole,” Musembi added.
In a united front, the residents have resolved that they no longer want KITWASCO to manage water resources in the region.
“We have agreed in one accord as people from this region that we do not need the services of KITWASCO anymore. We have no problem with the County Government under the leadership of Governor Malombe, but we want his government to allow our water to be managed by Kanyangi CBO and not KITWASCO,” said another protestor.
The residents emphasized that the local CBO has the capacity and qualified personnel, including educated youth, who can efficiently manage water resources in the area.
“Governor Malombe, we love you, but please don’t send to us people who just come and collect money from us without offering the service we need,” Musembi appealed.
The demonstration marks a growing tension between residents and KITWASCO, with calls for more community-led solutions to water access challenges in rural Kitui.
As the dry season bites, residents say they are ready to take charge of their own resources if that’s what it takes to ensure their children and the broader community can access clean, reliable water.
