Trouble brewing in Tharaka – Embu border over river usage

Residents of Mbeere in Embu County and Igambangombe division in Tharaka Nithi County are embroiled in a conflict following the drying up of Thuchi River, the main water source in the region, after farmers upstream tapped the water to irrigate their lands.

Thuchi River, which borders the two counties, has never dried up until recently after people living on upper parts diverted the water to their farms leaving the people downstream with little water thus creating tension in the region.

Speaking to the press, Phylis Kanini, who lives near the river said it is her first time to see the river dry up but said the calamity is self-made by people blocking the water from upstream areas.

She said they have turned to buying water at Ksh 30 per 20 liter container for domestic use.

Erastus Muthini, another resident, regrets that their efforts to go up and unblock the river have been met with a lot of resistance by the residents living on the upper part of the river.

Meru South Deputy County Commissioner, Omar Salat, said their efforts to remove the barriers and unblock the river have been made difficult by the locals who return the barriers immediately the authorities leave.

He has since instructed chiefs and elders from both counties to intervene and patrol the river and make sure no one puts these barriers.

Written by Erick Kombo