A company working on a Murang’a road has been barred from proceeding with its work until water pipes along the route are relocated.
A Murang’a court has restrained S.S Mehta Construction Company against tarmacking a section of Kiria-Kagaa- Githambo road until water pipes belonging to Kahuti Water and Sanitation Company are relocated.
The water firm moved to court decrying massive destruction of water lines which has seen several families and public institutions miss water supply.
The Water Company Managing Director Ephantus Kamau applied for an injunction to restrain the firm and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) from continuing with works until the pipelines are relocated.
Resident Magistrate Victoria Ochanda granted the application by the water company barring the road construction firm from proceeding with its works.
“An urgent temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining the respondents from wasting, damaging and interfering with claimant’s pipelines along the road under construction pending inter-parties hearing.”
The managing director in his affidavit said residents of Murarandia and Mugoiri areas of Kiharu constituency were left without water supply after the pipes were destroyed by earth-movers belonging to the road construction company.
Kamau noted that schools, dispensaries, and other local public institutions have since been relying on local streams where they fetch water thus exposing residents to the risk of contracting water-borne diseases.
“The company is losing revenue that it collects from the supply of water from the residents, and risks inability to pay salaries among other expenditures,” stated Kamau in the affidavit.
In the past five months, the residents in Kahuro Sub County have decried massive destruction of water pipes leading to acute shortage of water in their homes and learning institutions.
Two months ago, another local water firm; Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) raised concerns after a Chinese road construction company destroyed water pipes along Mukuyu- Gwathamaki road in Murang’a East.
The Chinese company was compelled to replace water pipes before it was allowed to proceed with its construction works.