This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
Published on August 6, 2020, a severe water shortage has been affecting Mombasa residents for the past two weeks.
Engineers from the Coast Water Works Development Agency are working around the clock to replace a damaged pipeline at the Baricho-Mombasa line near Baolala, which has resulted in a severe water shortage in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties.
Residents of Mombasa town and its environs, including parts of Kilifi County, have been without water since last week. The affected areas include Majengo, Stadium, Tudor, Kisauni, Ganjoni, and Mtwapa, where residents have resorted to using borehole water, believed to be unsafe and unhygienic for human consumption.
Residents are forced to buy borehole water from vendors, with a 20-litre container being sold at Sh.50 in some areas. A recent survey 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, residents expressed concern that the absence of clean water is endangering their lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. '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.
