By Gitonga Mukindia
Archers Post, is a fast growing town at the banks of river Ewaso Nyiro in Samburu East, where lack of water has been a perennial challenge.
Although the town has developed due to sand business going on along the riverbanks, the water that flows along the river is not always fit for human consumption because it is contaminated by human activities and by wild animals.
The residents get water from Isiolo side, through pipes from tourist hotels.
When it rains, the pipes are disconnected by ranging floods and the residents are left without clean water for domestic use.
Residents have complained to their county government to solve water crisis in the town in vain.
The town is a cosmopolitan, occupied mostly by people from Samburu, Turkana and Meru Communities.
Henry Ekwamu, a retired teacher, explains how the residents suffer when looking for water during dry season.
“Sometimes when people come to fetch water from these pipes when they are left disconnected by overflowing river, they are in danger of being attacked by wild animals and robbers,” Ekwamu Said.
“Our government has never thought of digging a single borehole to save the town residents,” he added.
Ibrahim Ekdor, is a young business man in the town, who runs a retail shop. He explains how ‘cartels’ take advantage of the situation to sell water to the residents using water boozers exorbitantly during dry seasons.
“Sometimes five liter jerrican of water is sold at ksh 50. Do you think a common citizen will afford this when some are sleeping hungry?” Ekidor Wondered.
He noted that their political leaders are about their businesses, giving deaf years about their plight.
He called upon the Samburu Governor to move with speed and solve the water crisis that is being experienced by the poor residents.
