Murang’a water project advances as NLC identifies land for acquisition

The proposed Murang’a Cluster Water and Sewerage Project has moved a step forward after the National Land Commission (NLC) identified privately owned properties earmarked for compulsory acquisition to facilitate the development.

The acquisition, being undertaken on behalf of the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA), covers properties in Ichagaki, Gakoigo, Nginda/Samar and Maragi areas of Murang’a County.

The latest Gazette notice lists dozens of parcels registered under individual landowners, companies, institutions and public bodies, marking an important stage in securing land required for the planned water and sanitation infrastructure.

The development is expected to support the expansion of water supply and sewerage services in the affected areas, although the commission’s notice does not provide the project’s total cost, planned water production capacity or the number of people expected to benefit.

Under Section 110 of the Land Act, the NLC is responsible for undertaking compulsory land acquisition on behalf of public agencies where land is required for approved public purposes.

The identification of the properties is part of the legal process of securing land for the project. It does not, by itself, mean that construction has started or that compensation has been completed.

The scheduled parcels are spread across several land registry sections, including Loc 7/Ichagaki, Loc 7/Gakoigo, Nginda/Samar Block I and Loc 11/Maragi.

Among the properties listed are those belonging to individual residents, companies and public institutions. Some parcels are jointly owned, while others are registered under public bodies, reflecting the range of land interests that will need to be addressed before implementation proceeds.

The acquisition process is important because water supply and sewerage developments require land for essential facilities such as treatment works, pumping stations, storage infrastructure and associated installations. The exact facilities planned under the Murang’a project, however, have not been detailed in the published notice.

The Athi Water Works Development Agency is among the national institutions responsible for developing bulk water and sanitation infrastructure to improve service delivery in its area of jurisdiction.

For residents, the proposed investment could contribute to improved access to reliable water supplies and better wastewater management once the necessary infrastructure is developed and operational.

The project also comes amid wider efforts to expand water and sanitation infrastructure as population growth and settlement expansion increase pressure on existing services.

However, the next stages will be important in determining when the project moves from land acquisition to construction. These include completing the statutory acquisition process, addressing compensation claims and confirming the implementation schedule.

The latest notice highlights the role of land access in delivering public water infrastructure, with the project’s eventual impact depending on timely implementation, adequate financing and the development of facilities that can meet the area’s growing water and sanitation needs.