National Government Intervenes To Ease Water Crisis In Kilifi, Mombasa

By Ben Okweingoti 

The national government has stepped in to address a worsening water crisis affecting Kilifi and Mombasa counties following growing public concern from residents and key players in the tourism sector.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Muga on Wednesday led a delegation of senior ministry officials and personnel from the Coast Water Works Development Authority (CWWDA) to inspect the Baricho water works in Malindi, Kilifi County. 

The site visit revealed that three out of the six borehole pumps at the facility had broken down, leading to the sharp drop in water supply.

Kilifi has been grappling with severe water shortages, leaving the Kilifi Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company (KIMAWASCO) and the Malindi Water and Sewerage Company (MAWASCO) unable to meet demand. 

The crisis has since escalated into a political storm, with CWWDA chairman Daniel Katama Mwaringa and Kenya Roads Board chairperson Aisha Jumwa publicly faulting Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro over his alleged failure to provide water to residents.

“Governor Mung’aro is a failure if he cannot supply water even when residents pay their bills. He does not deserve a second term,” Jumwa stated during a recent political event in Malindi.

However, fresh details emerged during the tour by CS Muga, Governor Mung’aro, and Mwaringa, revealing that the root cause of the crisis lies in technical failures at the Baricho wells.

“Three of the boreholes are currently out of commission. They require standard borehole cleaning—a maintenance procedure that will take up to three weeks to complete,” said Muga.

The CS disclosed that the Baricho plant is currently producing 80 million litres of water daily, shared between Kilifi and Mombasa. Yet, Kilifi alone requires at least 100 million litres per day to meet its needs.

To manage demand, Muga announced that the government would introduce water rationing across the two counties, with clear communication to residents on supply schedules.

“We are also engaging with Kenya Power to prioritise electricity supply to water infrastructure. In the short term, we are mobilizing Sh25 million to settle pending bills. In the long term, a Sh600 million solar power project is underway to significantly cut operational costs,” he said.

Governor Mung’aro urged an end to political provocations over an issue as critical as water supply, pointing out the constitutional framework where water provision is devolved but bulk production remains under national entities like CWWDA.

“When I said the pumps were not working, some people dismissed it as politics. Today we have heard from the CS himself. Let us stop playing politics with the lives of our people,” he said.

He affirmed that once the stalled wells are restored and rationing schedules activated, water supply would gradually improve across the affected regions.