The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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After more than a century without a steady water supply, residents of Modogashe in Garissa County are celebrating the arrival of piped water — a milestone that many thought would never come.
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For 75-year-old Halima Mohamed, the development is nothing short of miraculous.
“I had only seen piped water when visiting my children in Garissa Town,” she said.
On Sunday, she joined hundreds of locals at the official launch of the Modogashe water project.
“It feels unreal — like I’m in a dream,” she added with a smile.
Modogashe, one of the county’s oldest towns, has endured decades of water scarcity, relying on shallow wells and trucked-in water supplied by the county government.
That changed on Sunday, during a ceremony presided over by Governor Nathif Jama, where leaders and residents came together to inaugurate the long-awaited project.
Siyat Noor, a 66-year-old retired civil servant and community elder, called it a “new chapter” for the people of Modogashe.
“Seeing water flowing from taps for the first time is a historic moment, especially on a day that aligns with our 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations,” he said. He recalled years of broken promises from politicians who vowed to solve the crisis during campaigns.
Fatuma Noor echoed the joy, saying this year’s Madaraka Day felt truly meaningful. “We now celebrate not just our independence, but clean water in our homes,” she said. “Our daughters, some as young as three, used to wake up early to fetch water — often returning empty-handed. It was heartbreaking.”
Sahara Ahmed Bare, a local youth leader, noted that the water crisis had even forced some families to relocate to nearby areas in search of reliable sources.
Governor Jama said the project ends the community’s dependence on shallow wells dug along the Togweyne seasonal river, which often dried up during droughts.
“Today marks a turning point. This is a major achievement in our mission to provide safe and clean water,” he said.
The initiative began two years ago, with the drilling of four boreholes in the Qone plains of the Lorian Swamp, roughly 45 kilometers from Modogashe. To ensure consistent supply, two water storage tanks — one with a capacity of 450,000 liters and another holding 250,000 liters at Waree station — were built 29 kilometers from the boreholes.
The system is designed to deliver 60,000 litres of water per hour, reaching over 30,000 residents and supporting schools, health centers, and other institutions.
Jama urged locals to take ownership of the project. “It’s your project — protect it, maintain it, and make timely payments to ensure its sustainability,” he said.
He also announced that 150 vulnerable households would be connected to the system at no cost, and that efforts were underway to extend the water supply to Sololo in Isiolo County, which faces similar water challenges.
Area MP Abdikadir Hussein lauded the county government’s efforts, noting the transformation it would bring.
“This is more than a water project — it’s about restoring dignity and fairness to a community that has suffered in silence for far too long.”
