Four coastal counties are facing the threat of a severe water crisis as the aging Mzima Pipeline continues to suffer frequent bursts, prompting renewed calls for the urgent implementation of the long-delayed Mzima 2 Water Project.

The warning follows a major pipeline burst that disrupted water supply and electricity in parts of Voi Town for several days, exposing the vulnerability of the region’s primary water supply infrastructure.

Speaking during emergency repair works, Mzima Pipeline Supervisor Tuqa Wario urged the governors of Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties to jointly lobby for the fast-tracking of the Mzima 2 project, warning that continued delays could plunge the region into a prolonged water crisis.

“I have worked on the Mzima Pipeline for 32 years. At this point, the challenge has become very serious for the four coastal counties. As a matter of priority, these counties should come together and find a way to start the Mzima 2 project. The old pipeline is corroded, and that is why we are experiencing frequent bursts that cause constant water shortages. If we do not act now, the four counties will face a major water crisis,” Wario said.

Constructed in 1957, the Mzima Pipeline has exceeded its intended lifespan and is now increasingly prone to breakdowns, resulting in recurring water shortages across the Coast region.

Wario also dismissed reports that the Coast Water Works Development Agency had disconnected water supply to the Taita Taveta Water and Sewerage Company (TAVEVO) over an outstanding debt.

“The Mzima Pipeline does not serve Taita Taveta alone; it also supplies Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties. If we were to shut off the water, all four counties would be affected simultaneously. Those rumours are therefore untrue. The recent water shortage was purely a technical issue, not a financial one,” he clarified.

According to Wario, the pipeline’s aging steel infrastructure has become heavily corroded after nearly seven decades in operation, making emergency repairs increasingly frequent and costly.

He revealed that each major repair now costs more than KSh1 million, placing an additional financial burden on water service providers while failing to offer a long-term solution.

Water supply is expected to resume following the completion of emergency repairs carried out jointly by engineers from the Coast Water Works Development Agency and TAVEVO on Thursday.

However, officials maintain that emergency repairs can only provide temporary relief. They insist that the implementation of the Mzima 2 Water Project remains the only sustainable solution to guarantee reliable water supply for the rapidly growing populations of Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties.

The Mzima Pipeline, located in Taita Taveta County, is one of Kenya’s most critical water infrastructure projects, supplying millions of residents across the four coastal counties with water from the Mzima Springs.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has officially handed over a state-of-the-art coordination hub to the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA), marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen wildlife conservation and reduce human-wildlife conflict across 34 community conservancies in Taita Taveta County.

The facility, unveiled at Kasigau, will serve as the central command centre for coordinating ranger operations, monitoring wildlife movements and improving collaboration among conservation partners operating within one of Kenya’s most important wildlife landscapes.

The project began in 2021 when Kasigau Wildlife Conservancy allocated 10 acres of land to TTWCA under a 30-year lease. Construction of the hub was funded by The Elephant Cooperation at a cost of USD 52,000, while the Skellies Foundation provided an additional USD 14,000 worth of modern conservation equipment.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, IFAW Kenya Country Director Ben Wandago described the facility as a game-changer for conservation in the region.

“This is more than a building. It is the nerve centre for conservation coordination, bringing together technology, partnerships and field operations to strengthen wildlife protection and address human-wildlife conflict.”

The coordination hub will support real-time ranger operations through modern surveillance and communication technology, enabling conservation teams to respond more effectively to wildlife incidents and security threats.

IFAW Programme Officer Evan Makala said the project was designed to provide a central base from which conservation efforts across the landscape could be coordinated.

“The hub is designed as a springboard—a centre from which everything else in the conservation effort can launch and return to, a base from which patrols, partnerships and problem-solving all radiate outward.”

To enhance field operations, rangers have been equipped with GPS devices for tracking wildlife, professional Nikon cameras for field documentation, rechargeable LED torches, hydration packs and sleeping bags for extended patrols. The facility also houses a dedicated office for the Rangeland Security Coordinator and a digital monitoring room capable of displaying live field data.

According to IFAW, the new command centre builds on ongoing efforts by the State Department for Tourism and Wildlife to strengthen community-led conservation and improve coordinated responses to land-use challenges.

Receiving the facility on behalf of TTWCA, Chief Executive Officer Alfred Mwanake said the hub would significantly improve coordination among the association’s 34 member conservancies.

“This facility gives us a central operations base that will improve coordination, strengthen security and enhance conservation efforts across all our member conservancies.”

Regional Security Coordinator Ken Omaria said the modern equipment would enable rangers to monitor wildlife more accurately and respond faster to incidents of human-wildlife conflict.

Community Ranger Francis Nguzo Maghanga welcomed the investment, saying it would benefit both wildlife and local communities that regularly interact with elephants and other wild animals.

The handover ceremony was also attended by interns from Arizona State University, who are in Kenya studying community-led conservation initiatives in partnership with Conservation International, highlighting the growing international interest in locally driven conservation models.

Kasigau Wildlife Conservancy Board Chairperson Allen Mwakesi praised the partnership between conservation organisations and local communities, noting that the project had grown from a land donation in 2021 into a fully operational conservation coordination hub.

The new facility is expected to play a key role in safeguarding wildlife corridors, improving ranger coordination and promoting peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife across the greater Taita Taveta landscape.