Governor promises to end water shortage in Mombasa

Mombasa, Wednesday April 12, 2023

K.N.A By Sadik Hassan

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has assured Old Town residents of steady water flow in their taps once the rehabilitation of pipes from Mzima Spring was completed.

The assurance from the Governor comes in the wake of confirmed three cases of rotavirus following an upsurge of extreme diarrhoea and vomiting among infants and protest from Old Town residents of systemic water shortage.

Admittedly, the Governor said Mombasa is facing a water shortage and promised to discuss with the Department of Water to come up with long-term solutions.

Mombasa is the end user of bulk water supply from the Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA). Mombasa has a projected demand of 200,000 m3 against a supply of between 30,000 to 35,000 m3.

CWWDA produce bulk water from Mzima Springs (Taita – Taveta County), Marere Springs (Kwale County), Baricho Well Field (Kilifi County) and Tiwi boreholes (Kwale County). The water is, after treatment, distributed to Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita-Taveta counties.

“The problem we are currently facing is lack of enough water supply, especially the one from Mzima they have been a lot of issues that are going on. Issues to do with climate change, water supply reduction,” said Governor Nassir.

He added that they will revamp Mombasa’s borehole in Tiwi, Kwale County which will see parts of the Likoni constituency get more water, and also ensure that the line that was bringing water from Mzima into Mombasa Island is revamped.

Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO), the water provider has introduced water rationing as a result of low water supply from the neighbouring counties. MOWASSCO is banking on the recently unveiled Mwache dam in Kwale County to arrest water shortage.

The Sh18B Mwache dam is poised to be the game changer for the water problem in Kwale, and Mombasa counties. The dam will supply 230M litres of water for irrigation and domestic use.

Courtesy K.N.A