TAITA TAVETA – Residents of Taita Taveta County have been forced to endure a prolonged water shortage that has lasted for more than a week, disrupting household activities, education, and businesses in parts of the county. Residents of Voi town who spoke to Sifa FM questioned the frequent water shortages and blamed local leaders for failing to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The shortage has particularly affected students, with some saying the lack of water has disrupted their studies. Felisia Wasai, a student at a technical college, said the situation had made it difficult for her to attend classes because she could neither bathe nor wash her clothes, explaining that she was too dirty to go to school and asking authorities to address the problem.
Small-scale traders have also reported losses as the water shortage continues to affect businesses dealing in fresh produce. Maria Mraringa, a fruit and vegetable vendor, said her business had been affected for the past two weeks because she could not access enough water to wash fruits or clean vegetables for her customers.
environmental and logistical challenges have placed a heavy burden on women and children, with residents saying they have been forced to spend more money to access water. Jane Wakesho, a resident of Voi, said her family had gone for days without washing clothes or bathing and that residents were being forced to search for water from other sources and ask people to give them some.
Another resident, Mama Wakesho, said the situation had been particularly difficult for her young children. She noted that she has a three-year-old child and a one-year-old child whose clothes have not been washed and who have not bathed for two weeks, urging officials to resolve the water problem.
Residents have expressed concern that the water crisis is occurring despite Taita Taveta being home to significant water resources, including the Mzima Springs. Chitungata Nzai, a resident of Msambweni area in Voi, blamed the government and water authorities for the situation, stating that the government should be blamed for the lack of water despite having Mzima Springs in Taita.
The residents are now calling on the relevant authorities, water agencies, county government, and national government to intervene urgently and find a lasting solution to the recurring shortages.
The crisis has also triggered a war of words between the county government and the Coast Water Works Development Agency, with Governor Andrew Mwadime accusing the water agency of punishing residents by cutting off their water supply for more than a week. Governor Mwadime called for dialogue between the county government and the water agency, arguing that residents (“wananchi”) should not bear the consequences of disputes between public institutions through water shutoffs.
The governor said the county government had been making payments to Coast Water in line with an agreement between the two parties. He argued that the agency’s demand for the county to clear its entire outstanding bill was unreasonable, given the relatively small share allocated to Taita Taveta.
Mwadime explained that across the Coast region, there is a four-billion shilling water bill owed to the Coast Water Board. He noted that Taita Taveta County’s share is 72 million shillings, and that they have been making payments according to their agreement to pay eight million shillings.
Mwadime further called on Members of Parliament representing Taita Taveta to raise the matter in the National Assembly and defend residents against what he described as unfair treatment by the water agency.
The prolonged shortage has renewed calls for a lasting solution to Taita Taveta’s recurring water problems, with residents urging both levels of government and water authorities to put aside their differences and restore a reliable water supply.
