Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, EGH, has showcased a new water harvesting innovation that promises to ease water scarcity across arid parts of the county. While on an inspection tour in Ngomeni Ward, the governor sampled water from a recently constructed sump well along the Thunguthu River.
The sump well technology, an evolution of the traditional muvuko, has been transformed into a cylindrical concrete structure sunk in the middle of the riverbed. First introduced alongside sand dam projects during Dr. Malombe’s earlier tenure, the upgraded design filters water naturally through sand before being collected and pumped for domestic and agricultural use.
Unlike conventional boreholes, which are costly to drill and often yield saline water, the sump wells are cheaper, more sustainable, and guarantee fresh water. They also recharge naturally during rainfall seasons, thanks to numerous sand dams constructed both upstream and downstream.
Governor Malombe affirmed that the project underscores his administration’s agenda of “Delivering the Kitui County Promise”, pledging to expand the innovation to more wards as part of long-term water security measures for households and livestock.
