Negligence in full flow as Machakos thirsts for water

Ideally, privatisation of water services is meant to ensure economic viability and efficiency. But while many of the companies formed by local authorities and meant to be autonomous have been doing a decent job, some have lapsed into clumsy management. This is at the expense of the consumer.

That is perhaps why complaints on water shortages have not dried up since the launch of this column in July 2008. And in most instances we are not talking about taps running dry for one or two days. Rather, it involves consumers enduring weeks, or even months, without water.