Relief as Sh1.3 billion Kenol town sewerage plant is complete

Traders and property developers in Kenol market have a reason to smile following the completion of the sewerage project.

For the past 20 years, exhaust service was a major investment, before the leadership at Murang’a South Water (Muswasco) designed the Sh1.3 billion project.

Kenol market is ranked among the fast-growing urban centres in the country owing to its proximty to the Kenol/ Marua dual carriage highway and Thika and Nairobi.

The growth of the Kenol market started in the 1990s. However, some rogue landlords who emptied the septic tanks through the drainage systems turned parts of the town inhabitable.

Lucy Wangari, a resident, said the sewerage project was a milestone, as money used to treat water-borne diseases will be diverted to personal development.

“I used a lot of money for exhaust services, and now my building is connected with the sewer line and there is sanity,” said Wangari.

Beth Githaiga, a community leader, said the sewerage will go along in uplifting the businesses at Kenol and, called for connection of nearby areas in Kagundu ini, including Kabati market.

“Murang’a South Water Company (Muswasco) should consider extending the service to the markets in Kagundu ini that can be connected to the sewerage plant,” said Ms Githaiga. 

The major enterprises are Gold Palm Hotel, and Magunas, and CarreFour supermarkets.

Golden Palm Hotel owner Eng Njau Njoka lamented that the exhausting operators have exploited investors for long with punitive charges.

Njoka said because of a lack of a sewerage system, they were forced hire a truck to drain waste water from the 10 septic pits within the hotel.

“The operators charged Sh12,000 per truck and Golden Palm was the first premise to be connected to the sewer line to stop paying for exhaust service,” said Njoka.

Muswasco Managing Director John Macharia announced that the sewerage project was completed last month, and more premises were connected to the pipeline.

Eng Macharia said the project is a significant change in the upgrading plan of the Kenol Municipality through improved sanitation, with the plant located 10 km away.

“We are working with the business community to ensure all the residential buildings are connected to the sewer line, as we supply 7,500 cubic metres of water per day needed for a disposal mechanism,” said Macharia.

Macharia said the sewerage has been a necessity following the growth of the town, and last year a pipeline supplying water from Mareira in Kigumo was completed.

Previously, boreholes were the main source of water, thus increasing waterborne diseases. Muswasco has a technical team to ensure the water supply remains uninterrupted. 
“The second phase of the sewerage projects is to connect buildings in Kabati and Mithi markets,” said the managing director.

Joseph Manyeki, who chairs the Kenol Traders Association, was optimistic that sewerage project will fast-track the growth of the town through improved sanitation.

Manyeki of Seaton agencies’ properties said the sewerage project created employment opportunities for the plumbers as their services will be required within the municipality to connect buildings to the sewer lines.

“The project has increased the value of the property at Kenol market due to reduced costs of using the exhauster system,” said Manyeki.

An exhauster dealer, Chege Mbatia, said the sewerage project will affect their businesses as they operated within the Kenol market, which had more residential buildings operating septic tanks.

“Yes, it is a project to uplift the status of the town, but we shall not leave out people in the rural setup yet to be connected,” said the operator.

There were fears that exhaust operators emptied the waste water in rivers and abandoned quarries.

Clement Kamau, a member of the Kenol Municipality Board, said the sewerage project will reduce the cost of putting up and draining their sewers through the exhausters. 

Public Health Director Muthui Gitonga gave the project a clean bill and called on the locals to connect to the sewer line.

“This is a milestone to ensure the sanitation of the town,” said Muthui.