By The Peak
Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya has called for an investigation into an alleged poisoning of a water well in Maragwa, Tharaka North Sub County.
The lawmaker claims that a malicious person poured crushed glass particles into the said well which is used for domestic use including drinking and watering animals.
He said after receiving a call from the residents yesterday while on official duty in Entebbe City, Uganda, he instructed his handlers at the village to rush to the scene where they met the locals at the said water source and took a record of the claims.
On Wednesday, the handlers went back to Maragwa and picked up a number of villagers to Gatunga Police Station where they recorded a statement regarding the incident.
He said he went and contacted Tharaka North Sub County Public Health Officer Mr Luke Mwenda who called the Community Health Promoters covering the area CHVs who listed the people who consumed the water.
Further, Gataya said the water point was cordoned off to ensure that no one consumes the contaminated water.
The legislator noted that tomorrow on Thursday, medics will be visiting the affected village to investigate the matter.
“The well-being of our people must be prioritized. The county government and Tharaka CDF ought to answer these simple questions: Why, in 2023, would Maragwa people have no access to clean drinking water? Are our priorities right? Despite the County receiving billions of shillings, our people in some parts of our county are still sharing water points with animals! This is PATHETIC! Things must change!” wrote Gataya on his Facebook page.
Apart from calling on for the investigations which would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the criminals, the residents have threatened to pronounce a curse locally known as ‘nduka;