Residents of Mwatate in Taita Taveta County are facing a severe water crisis that has left them without consistent access to the essential commodity for months, with locals accusing the TAVEVO Water and Sewerage Company Limited of negligence, complicity in vandalism, and a complete disregard for the plight of the community they are mandated to serve.
The crisis, which has been ongoing since 2023, has seen residents go for months without water being pumped despite paying for the service, with the field technician using rationing as a cover to deny residents water while the head office provides no assistance when contacted.
The situation has been compounded by the company's failure to address the rampant vandalism and destruction of water pipes in the area, with residents strongly suspecting that TAVEVO is complicit in the destruction given their repeated refusal to take meaningful action to protect the infrastructure.
The desperation of the residents reached a boiling point on Monday when they took to the streets of Mwatate to demonstrate against the ongoing negligence, a clear sign of the frustration and hopelessness that has gripped the community as they are left to beg for basic services from a company that continues to collect payment without delivering.
Despite the severity of the crisis, residents say their pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears, with neither the company's management nor the relevant government authorities stepping in to address the situation.
One resident, who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, recounted a humiliating encounter with a TAVEVO manager who dismissed their concerns with arrogance, telling them that they could not threaten the company.
The manager reportedly repeated the phrase "huwezi tushtua" with an air of defiance, a response that left the residents feeling powerless and further convinced that the company has no intention of addressing the crisis.
The water crisis has also exposed a deeper problem of governance and accountability, as residents say they have reached out to the relevant ministers and authorities but have received no help on the issue.
The failure of the county government and the national government to intervene has only added to the frustration of the residents, who feel abandoned by the very institutions that are supposed to protect their rights and ensure their access to clean water.
The situation has now escalated into a public health crisis, as the lack of clean water poses a serious risk to the health and well-being of the community.
Residents are now calling on the national government, the Taita Taveta County Government, and the Water Services Regulatory Board to intervene and address the crisis immediately.
"Hey Cyprian. I'm reaching out about a serious water crisis affecting residents in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County that deserves public attention. Since 2023, residents have been denied consistent access to water by the local water company. We go months without water being pumped despite paying for the service. The field technician uses rationing as a cover to deny residents water while the head office provides no assistance when contacted. What makes this worse is the company's complete failure to address vandalism and destruction of water pipes. Residents strongly suspect the company is complicit in this destruction given their repeated refusal to take meaningful action. Yesterday, residents demonstrated in town over this ongoing negligence, a sign of how desperate the situation has become. People are being left to beg for basic services from a company that collects payment without delivering. This is a public health issue affecting an entire community and it deserves to be told. I am happy to provide more details if you are interested in covering this story. Not forgetting other people have reached out to the minister but still no help on the issue. I mentioned to one of the managers at Tavevo that I will make this information public and he repeatedly told me "huwezi tushtua and you can't threaten anyone." It's become an incredibly humiliating experience dealing with these criminals."
