As the prevailing drought continues to bite, residents of Juja and Gatuanyaga areas of Kiambu County are at loggerheads over the use of Ndarugu River water.

At one point, police had to intervene to prevent a physical clash between residents of Nyacaba village and those from Munyu and Komo areas who accused the former of diverting the river into an intake leaving no water flowing downstream.

This comes as the volume of the river water has dwindled to a near-trickle following months of drought that has adversely affected thousands of residents and their animals who rely on the water for survival.

Earlier this week, a group of youths led by Gatuanyaga Member of County Assembly (MCA) Jackmah Kung’u stormed another intake erected upstream by a local flower-growing company and removed tons of sandbags that were channeling the water to a private pump.

Water board

Residents living in the lower regions are appealing to the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) to intervene in the crisis and protect the interests of consumers downstream.

“We have established that individuals and flower companies are illegally diverting water from the river for irrigation, thus making it dry up and leaving thousands of consumers without the vital resource,” said Kung’u.

The ward rep called on the relevant agencies to take legal action against those violating the law and putting to risk the lives of people who depend on the river for survival.

Interestingly, the group from Gatuanyaga, using mallets, broke a concrete barrier on the river that channeled the water into a pumphouse for the local Kinyathena Water Scheme, established in 2010, causing further conflict between the two parties.

Witeithie Ward MCA Mwibiri Ngugi had to step in and prevail on his Gatuanyaga counterpart and his followers to stop further damage to the water project.

The parties agreed on a rationing formula to ensure those upstream and the dwellers downstream do not lack water.

Kung’u said public institutions including Munyu Girl’s Secondary School and the local dispensary were facing serious water shortages.