Mombasa residents have been grappling with severe water shortage in the last two weeks.
However, according to sources at the Coast Water Works Development Agency, the engineers are working round the clock to replace the damaged pipeline, which is the source of the shortage to restore normal water supply the soonest possible.
Residents of Mombasa town and its environs, including some parts of the neighbouring Kilifi County have gone without water since last week, following the damage of the key pipeline at Baricho-Mombasa line near Baolala.
The most affected areas include Majengo, Stadium, Tudor, Kisauni, Ganjoni and Mtwapa where the residents have resorted to borehole water, believed to be unsafe and unhygienic for human consumption.
The residents are forced to buy borehole water from vendors where in some areas a 20-litre container is sold at Sh.50.
A recent survey conducted by the Mombasa Water Kiosk Operators Association revealed that only 2,300 out of 8,000 kiosks in the coastal city sell clean water from certified sources.
During an interview with KNA on Wednesday, most of the residents complained that absence of clean water was endangering their lives especially during this period of Covid-19.
“It is very important to have reliable, clean and safe water during this period where high standards of hygiene are critical to combat the spread of coronavirus,” said Ali Mzee, a resident of Majengo.
Mzee lamented that serious water shortages in the County have become so frequent and accused both the Mombasa Water and Sanitation Company and Coast Water Agency of not doing much to find a lasting solution.
By Mohamed Hassan
