Maralal residents of Muslim faith have decried the lack of water in the town especially during this holy month of Ramadhan.
The faithful led by Gulled Mohammed who is also Maralal town’s Nyumba Kumi Chairman told KNA that despite paying water bills to the Samburu Water and Sanitation Company (SAWASCO) the taps have remained dry forcing residents to buy water from vendors at very high prices.
Mohamed said that during this holy month of Ramadhan Muslim homesteads need a lot of water and they are now buying salty water at Sh 30 for a 20 litre jerrican.
“For the last two years water shortage and rationing have affected us and the SAWASCO management seem not to care about us, I urge the county government to intervene and solve the water crisis in Maralal town,” he said.
Abdia Mohamed noted that Muslims in Maralal are at risk of contracting Covid-19 and other diseases because of the perennial lack of water.
“Because of lack of water we are now using tissue paper which is not permitted by our religion,” lamented the irate resident.
However, not all residents are complaining about the water shortage. Samuel Kinyua a water vendor in Maralal town said that his business is booming because taps are dry.
Kinyua said that he gets supply orders from homesteads, hotels, salons and barber shops where he sells 20 litres of salty water at Sh 20 and Sh 50 for fresh water.
“I source salty water from private bore holes and fresh water from residents that have invested heavily in rain water harvesting,” he said.
Efforts to reach SAWASCO Chairman Mark Lenolkulal in his office and by phone were fruitless.
By Robert Githu
