Re: Stop Mombasa Water Woes - Madam Minister

It is solely due to the fact that CWSB is, on paper like you mention below, the one responsible for all or most of our woes, why haven't you targeted them instead of MOWASCO who are, again, on paper, the ones who are responsible for the delivery, NOT, the infrastructure?

Then, if the infrastructure is NOT there, how can our water be delivered, in the second place? Due to the infrastructure NOT being there or interfered with, aided and abetted by people who work in this sector (illegal connections are an example), we have a supply problem. All this is supposed to be done by CWSB, NOT, MOWASCO.

Hence, my repeated pleadings that the Ministry simplify our lives as consumers by having only one simple institution which is responsible for both infrastructure and supply. So, we are not sent on a wild goose chase when following up on our water woes. And our water providers can't play button, button who's got the button, with us.

Under the current 'structure', everybody we go to see, keeps passing the proverbial buck on to somebody else.

For example, the latest borehole being dug in our neighbourhood, despite me having rung and written about it, nobody in our bloated water sector has acted on it for it continues to be dug just meters away from a CDF funded one!

In the above case, whom would one take to account? A Mr. Ngubu, who is the local official in charge on behalf of the Water Resources Management Authority (he also gets my emails), does scant little regarding any of these issues that I've brought to his notice. In fact, after dilly dallying a little, he and his 'officials', promptly allow such things. I have at least one such example (another one), in my neighbourhood.

Also, talking about 'facts' that you should forward to the Minister. Please, go armed with your copy of my petition with the over 900 signatures, etc., and demand that it be acted on with immediate effect instead of them wasting precious funds and time in setting up a pipeline from Mzima which is a short term venture. For, the sources that feed all our fresh water springs and rivers and lakes, are soon going to dry up due to the water catchment areas getting deforested and the snow not forming higher up in the mountains.

Razia.

atha achola wrote on Monday, 7th July 2008 at 10:27 AM:

Hi Raziya

Thanks for your comments. While it is true in paper that CWSD is responsible, the fact is they have been unable to measure up to the task. This is reason why the Ministry of Water had to intervene to reorganize the supply. If the CWSD was effectively incharge they would have addressed the management confusion which continue to dog Mowasco.

Facts: I did not include facts in that email as I have prepared a detailed memo based on independent findings filed by ConsumerFirst over the water management issue in Mombasa.

As for the infrastructure ownership and management; as at this moment our concern is in the supply. If caused by the infrastructure that can be addressed at a nother stage. Meanwhile wait to verify the facts we will include in a memo I will be forwarding to the minister on Thursday in Nairobi. You know she is suppose to be inaugurating the new board of MOWASCO perhaps this week; that should not happen without thorough public scrutiny

Should you have some facts that you would wish I include, please forward the same to me.

Regards
Atha