By Kamau Njoroge
As the prevailing drought across the country continue to bite leaving millions facing acute hunger and lack of water, Zetech University has maintained that innovations and research will save the country from future crisis.
The varsity which recently opened its Mang’u campus in Witeithie, Juja Sub-county, has entered into a pact with the Water Services Providers Association (WASPA) to promote innovation, research and best practices for the provision of efficient and sustainable water and sanitation services.
The partnership according to Vice Chancellor, Prof. Njenga Munene, will focus on climate change and sustainability through innovation, research on water and sanitation services, corporate training in human resource management, leadership and governance.
Munene who spoke after the MoU signing at their Thika Road campus in Ruiru said that the collaboration will also involve a baseline survey to identify areas of focus and assess the current state of water and sanitation services in the region.
“This partnership is not only significant for promoting efficient and sustainable water and sanitation services but it is also in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030,” Munene said.
The VC noted with concern that the country as well as the entire world is grappling with the effects of climate change, drought, hunger, and starvation; and the water and sanitation sector has not been spared, with access to clean and safe water becoming increasingly difficult for many people.
“This is the reason why extensive research and innovations in the sector is needed to come up with solutions to this menace. This is a call to other higher learning institutions in the country to join efforts and help in finding long lasting solutions to this global challenge,” The VC said.
Prof Munene noted that Zetech University was set to be a major conduit for information, innovation and knowledge creation to identify areas of focus and assess the current state of water and sanitation services in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties and Kenya at large.
“Through our iZET Hub and our experienced faculty, Zetech University has the capacity to conduct research and use the data to find sustainable solutions to the water accessibility and waste management in our cities,” he said.
On his part, WASPA CEO Antony Ambugo remarked that industry-academia pacts such as these were pivotal in providing an enabling environment for its stakeholders.
“ We’ve had numerous challenges with our water service providers because we are losing 45% of water due to lack of adequate research and innovation on sustainable management of water and sanitation,” Ambugo said.
The deal comes at a time when Kiambu County is facing a serious water crisis after major rivers that quench the county run dry.
Ruiru Juja Water and Sewerage Company (RUJWASCO) Managing Director Simon Mwangi called on residents, firms, and institutions including schools within the region to utilize the available water sparingly saying that the prevailing drought has drained its major sources of water.
“Currently we are relying on the supply from Kariminu II dam because our major rivers including Ruiru and Ndarugu are dry. It’s my humble appeal even to schools within Juja, Ruiru and Githurai to utilize the little water we are supplying them sparingly. They should avoid unwarranted wastage of the precious commodity,” the MD said.
