Water Cabinet Secretary nominee Eric Muriithi has provided two solutions for water scarcity in areas such as Marsabit.

Responding to questions at County Hall during the ongoing parliamentary vetting, Muriithi expressed his sadness over the water shortage in Marsabit and proposed water pans as a short-term solution and 100 PP dams as a long-term solution.

Eric Muriithi comparison

He compared Kenya to Israel, noting that although Israel has fewer water resources, it manages them more effectively than Kenya.

Muriithi highlighted that the main issue in Kenya is the mismanagement of rainwater, which often ends up in the oceans, causing havoc.

“Water is a devolved function. It is quite unfortunate for the people of Marsabit that they do not have water. To be honest, I’m sad. Israel’s available water resources are not as endowed as ours, yet it is unfortunate that 84 per cent of our renewable water resources go to the oceans,” Muriithi stated.

“When it rains, we see the havoc caused by that water. That water is God-given for us to be self-sustainable. The immediate solution is inexpensive water pans, but the long-term solution is the 100 PP dams we are discussing so that once it rains, we impound that water and have a piped network to the people of Marsabit,” he added.

Muriithi, 32, hails from Athi Market and is a Civil Engineer by profession. He attended Athi Primary School and later joined St. John’s Boarding School, where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2005, attaining 431 marks.

He then joined Lenana Boys High School, scoring an A- (minus) in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Muriithi holds a civil engineering degree from Jomo Kenyatta University and a master’s degree from the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Muriithi’s specialization

He is a registered Consulting Civil Engineer specializing in Water, Sanitation, and Infrastructure Services, including Roads and Drainage.

His range of experience includes Condition Surveys of existing schemes, Feasibility Studies, Preliminary Designs, Detailed Designs, Preparation of Detailed Drawings, Quantities and Costing, Tender Documents Preparation, Tender Evaluation, Construction Supervision, Project Management, and Contract Administration.