Residents of Kihoto and Karagita estates in Naivasha which hosts ten of flower farm workers have been put on high alert over the ongoing rains.
Shallow boreholes drilled next to latrines in the two estates have been identified as the main cause of cholera outbreaks with the minors and women been the most affected.
According to Naivasha sub-county administrator Julius Nyaata, several of the latrines and boreholes had flooded raising fears of a disease outbreak.
“We are working with our colleagues from the department of public health to treat some of the boreholes and supply water-treating drugs to area residents,” he said.
Speaking in his office, Nyaata noted that every residential plot in Khoto had a shallow borehole which bordered the latrines.
“In the last couple of days Naivasha has recorded heavy rains and latrines and borehole in estates like Kihoto and Karagita has flooded putting area residents at risk,” he said.
He termed Kihoto as the most affected estate adding that majority of the boreholes were illegal and do not meet the required standards.
Nyaata was quick to add that the water crisis could soon be a thing of the past as there was a major water project been carried out by World Bank (WB).
“The World Bank project is ongoing and meanwhile we ask members of the public to seek water from licensed boreholes and water vendors,” he said.
Lakeview MCA Simon Wanyoike admitted that the ongoing water project would resolve the health crisis in Kihoto estate once done.
Wanyoike said that the pipes had already been laid in the estate and the main water tank constructed ahead of the launch of the multi-million project.
“For years Kihoto estate has recorded cholera outbreak and we hope that with the water project this will be a thing of the past,” he said.
He said that the World Bank (WB) project that seeks to supply clean water to the estate was in the last phase with water supply expected in a couple of months.
“We are worried by the trend of cholera outbreak in Kihoto estate every year as the number of those affected by cholera outbreak continues to rise by the day,” he said.
