Feud over Sh8 billion water project in Kilifi leaves taps dry

Over 3,000 residents of Kawala-Kadzonzo area have been forced to trek for over 20 kilometres to the neighbouring Kwale County in search of water.

This follows a standoff between Kilifi Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company Limited (KIMAWASCO) and the locals over a Sh8 billion-project built by World Vision in 2007.

In a letter, KIMAWASCO claims that the committee running the Kafuduni-Kadzono Water Project has also not paid an 18-month bill totalling Sh1 million.

KIMAWASCO now wants to take over the management of the water project saying there were no guidelines on how it should deal with such a community project.

"Should the county not be able to institute a structured way of enforcing payment of bills on the part of the management committee, then the only way to ensure sustainability of water supply to the residents of Kafuduni Kadzonzo sub-location is to hand over the project to KIMAWASCO," reads the letter from the water company to Governor Amason Kingi.

In the letter dated April 6, KIMAWASCO, which is run by the county also claimed that the community committee had unsuccessfully tried to get bulk water from Coast Water Development Agency.

On Saturday, the chairman of the community Mwambi Mwasaru claimed the water firm was out to frustrate the community to hand over the water project.

"The water shortage has been deliberately created by  KIMAWASCO who are fraudulently trying to take over a community water project they have coveted since its inception in 2007 by using strategies that have failed for the past 15 years," he said.

Women in the area have borne the brunt of the water shortage as they are required to walk over seven kilometers to Kwale to search for clean water.

Annete Mlongo, a resident of Kawala says the water burden has taken toll on women and children.

"I fetch four jerrycans per day and it's not enough for all the household chores. My family members have to contend with bathing once with one jug of water and sometimes we don’t even bath," she said.

Rukia Kikoko said water scarcity has forced children out of school.

"The impact on children  is severe. They have to juggle between schooling and looking for water. At school, they no longer have the energy to learn," said Kikoko.

She said residents buy a 20-litre jerrycan of water at Sh50.

"I pay a boda boda guy Sh300 per day to fetch me six jerrycans. This has really been a burden concerning the drought that has made food scarce. Sometimes you buy water and you end up drinking the water and sleep," says Kitsao Lewa.

Residents now want the county government to solve the issue by waiving the bill from KIMAWASCO and let water flow back to the community.

They also want the county government to take up the matter and investigate KIMAWASCO.

Mr Omar Makuu, who is the secretary  of the community said they were not ready to hand over the project to KIMASWSCO.

"We will not give in to threats from KIMAWASCO. We can't hand over our project to a company that we don't have shares with," he said.