Murang’a: Residents of lower Kandara are set to benefit from improved access to clean and reliable water following plans by the Murang’a County government to construct a new water intake and treatment plant at Kagunduini.
According to Kenya News Agency, the proposed project is part of the county government’s ongoing efforts to address persistent water shortages that have affected several parts of Murang’a by expanding water infrastructure and bringing water sources closer to consumers. Governor Irungu Kang’ata, through a public notice, mentioned that the county had undertaken an assessment of the water situation in lower Kandara and identified low water supply volumes and the location of existing water sources upstream as the major causes of the shortages.
Kang’ata stated that the county had embarked on a strategy of establishing new water intakes in Murang’a’s middle belt to improve water distribution to underserved areas. He announced the plan to design a new water intake and treatment plant at Kagunduini to serve the lower parts of Kandara Sub County.
The treatment plant is proposed to be situated on land belonging to Kagunduini Health Centre and is expected to serve thousands of residents across Kagunduini, Kinyoho, Nduka Nguru, Kamunyaka, Kabati, Makenji, and the Kenneth Matiba Hospital areas. The project follows a model being implemented under the ongoing lower Kigumo Water Project in Kiamatumbi Village, Muthithi Ward, aimed at providing a lasting solution to water shortages in the Sub County.
Beyond improving domestic water supply, the project is also expected to support agricultural activities through irrigation. Kang’ata highlighted that landowners along the Kariti-Kagunduini corridor would benefit from irrigation water once the project is completed.
The county government has scheduled a public participation and wayleave-signing exercise for landowners and residents affected by the proposed pipeline route. The meeting will be held at Kioru Coffee Factory Compound on June 22, 2026, at 4.00 p.m. This exercise will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to learn more about the project, give their views, and discuss wayleave arrangements required for the construction of the water infrastructure. Kang’ata urged residents and landowners to attend the meeting and contribute to the planning process.
The proposed intake and treatment plant is expected to significantly boost water supply in Lower Kandara, ease shortages that have persisted for years, and support both household consumption and agricultural production, advancing the county government’s agenda of improving access to essential services across Murang’a.
