Firm recruits vendors to supply water in Mombasa estates

What you need to know:

  • The firm has been grumbling to adequately supply piped water to the approximately 1 million residents living on the Island and other suburbs, who have been complaining of receiving huge bills despite receiving erratic piped water supply.
  • The informal settlements are highly populated with a density of upto 6,640 persons per square kilometre and most of them end up being excluded from adequate and clean water supply.

A water supply firm in Mombasa has embarked on recruitment of vendors who will be charged with supplying water to residents in parts especially in informal settlements, of the county where it has been a challenge.

The firm has been grumbling to adequately supply piped water to the approximately 1 million residents living on the Island and other suburbs, who have been complaining of receiving huge bills despite receiving erratic piped water supply.

Now, the firm has announced that it will undertake an ambitious project targeting the extension of water supply to more than 300,000 living in low income settlements.

In an advertisement on Wednesday, Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (Mowassco) said its focus is to provide adequate, safe and affordable water and sewerage services in an efficient and viable manner to the residents and invited individuals and groups to apply to operate water kiosks and standpipe in those settlements.

The project targets Kisumu Ndogo, Ziwa La Ng’ombe, Mnazi Moja, Shauri Yako, Magogoni, Maweni Matopeni among others.

Also to benefit are Burukenge residents within Mombasa island as well as those in Jitoni, Bangladesh and Uhuru Owino in Changamwe areas.

The informal settlements are highly populated with a density of upto 6,640 persons per square kilometre and most of them end up being excluded from adequate and clean water supply.

Whereas the firm conceded that the demand for water supply has significantly exceeded its supply, it will address the unique prevailing situation through the project which would lead to an effective management of water supply and distribution, it said.

Several months ago, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho cancelled licences of 2,500 water vendors accusing them of exploiting locals describing them as “ruthless profiteers out to fleece the residents.”

It is not clear whether the licences of the 2,500 water vendors would be reinstated.