Drilling rig
The County Government of Embu has acquired a borehole drilling rig at a cost of Sh53 million. The equipment comprising of the rig and two support vehicles will be used to provide clean water to isolated communities in the semi-arid parts of the county.
Launching the equipment at a brief ceremony held at the Embu County Government Offices in Embu Monday, Governor Cecily Mbarire said the equipment will enable them to sink four to five wells per month.
The kit has an estimated lifespan of about 20 years. Mbarire said solar power that is abundant in the area will be used to pump out the water with the drilling program giving priority to schools and dispensaries that lack clean piped water.
She added that her government will consider commercializing some aspects of the rig’s operations so that revenue generated by the use of the rig by private individuals can be used for the maintenance and operation of the machinery.
Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku welcomed the equipment and said the assembly will consider enacting a law that will establish a special fund to run the borehole drilling program.
He said such a fund would be shielded from the normal public finance management cycles to prevent the equipment being grounded between financial years when it should be working for the people.