The SaveAberdarerivers.org was started by concerned Murang’a County residents who understand the value of best river management practices. Our vision is to protect all the rivers that flow from Nyandarua Mountain range (Aberdare) from opportunistic, unsustainable flow extraction and environmental degradation.
Unsustainable extraction consists of diverting excessive amounts of water from the rivers without making allowances for the domestic, agricultural, industrial water requirements of the downstream communities and also the flow to maintain the rivers in a healthy condition.
We are alarmed due to two large water projects by the Athi Water Service Board (AWSB) to divert water from most of the Nyandarua water towers and pipe it to the Nairobi Metropolitan area. Phase One of the projects, which is referred as the Northern Collector Tunnel (NCT) will collect about 140,000 cubic meters per day from the Irati, Maragua and Gikigie rivers through a tunnel that is three meters wide. This is a very large tunnel and even if all the three rivers are emptied into it, it won’t fill. Phase Two will collect a similar volume from the North and South Mathioya rivers. If the projects are constructed, Murang’a County will have everlasting drought which will degrade its economy, social fabric and environment. Like all other Kenyans, we desire the Metropolitan residents to have adequate water. However, the NCT projects appear to be exploitive, unbalanced, and will do more harm than good to Murang’a County.
