Company urges dialogue with unhappy traders traders
Water flows from a water vending truck. Water vendors in Mombasa County have accused a water company of planning to drive them out of business. PHOTO/FILE
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Dispute said to have led to severe water shortage in many areas, including Mbuta in Mtongwe.
Water vendors in Mombasa County have accused a water company of planning to drive them out of business.
The more than 4,500 traders claimed Tuesday that a senior official at the company had indiscriminately disconnected their meters even after they had paid their bills.
Mombasa Water Kiosk Operators Association chairman Gabriel Amok said the company had deliberately reduced the number of members in its register from 4,500 to 1,800 “so that they may frustrate us.”
But the company urged the operators to seek dialogue to tackle the problems. Corporate Communications Manager Sarah Langat said the company had engaged in open policy as demanded by the Water Act and wanted to bring on board all stakeholders.
“Both the operators and ourselves are facing very difficult situations. For our part, for example, we can sell only 30 per cent of the water to consumers and so it’s hard to operate without complaints,” she said.
Ms Langat said the company would engage the operators in talks to ensure both sides “do their best in the given circumstances to serve the consumers.”
Mr Amok said the dispute had led to severe water shortage in many areas, including Mbuta in Mtongwe.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the association secretary, Ms Elizabeth Mbuli, claimed the water company had declined to renew their licences.
According to the Water Act, the company is supposed to charge the operators 70 cents per 20-litre jerrican while they are to sell the same for two shillings to consumers. But the kiosk owners have been accused of selling the commodity at exorbitant prices.
