Changamwe, Jomvu experience water shortage

Residents of Changamwe and Jomvu sub-counties are forced to travel long distances in search of water following an acute shortage.

Handcart vendors have had to walk as many as 15km from Changamwe to Miritini to get water.

At some point, more than 60 handcarts were seen queuing at a water point and had to wait for up to nine hours to fill their jerricans that they would sell to households in Bangladesh, Mikindani, Changamwe and Jomvu, among others.

A water kiosk owner William Kodi, said the problem stared two months ago when the county government closed down hundreds of kiosks whose owners were accused of exploiting locals. “The other problem is that most water pipes keep on bursting because they are old,” said Mr Kodi.

A water vendor Gabriel Mbogho said the problem has forced locals to use contaminated water from boreholes. Some kiosks were selling a 20-litre jerrican for up to Sh50 against a recommended price of Sh2. Others were said to have been connected to the main water pipes illegally.

The government says it will only license a few kiosks that will be regulated to ensure locals are not exploited.

Other areas, including Kisauni, Kongowea, Likoni, Maweni, Frere Town and Tudor are also experiencing serious water shortage.