Migori: Residents of Migori town are set to experience prolonged water shortages after the county government cited destruction of water intakes and financial challenges in settling accumulated water bills.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Executive for Water, Silas Owuor, stated that the water shortage has been caused by the destruction of water intake channels by floods late last year, which disrupted water supply to the Migori Water and Sanitation Company (MIWASCO).
Owour confirmed that though repairs have been made, the biggest challenge facing MIWASCO was the huge electricity bill that had stretched beyond the stipulated county water budget estimates. He mentioned that the county was looking for ways to solarize the water intakes using booster pumps to reduce the high electricity bills affecting the production and processing of clean, safe water for county residents.
‘We have been doing water rationing in the four municipalities of Rongo, Awendo, Migori, and Kehancha, and my urge to residents is that they should prioritize water storage facilities to harvest the precious commodity,’ he said.
The County Executive also disclosed that MIWASCO is owed over Sh54 million by their clients in unpaid water bills, which continue to affect the company’s operations. ‘My plea to the county residents is that they should clear their water bills to allow us to serve them better,’ he said.
The county has approximately 20,000 households in Migori town connected to clean water, many of whom are expected to be affected by the current rationing program, being implemented to manage the limited supply. The water shortage comes amid a prolonged December/January drought, raising concerns over a possible increase in water-borne diseases if access to safe water remains limited.
The Municipal authorities have urged residents to use the available water sparingly, even as efforts continue to address the financial constraints. However, John Otieno, a hotel owner in Migori downtown, has urged the municipal management to solve the continuous water shortages in town. Otieno said solving the water crisis would address many challenges facing most business people in town.
‘Water is everything, and the prevailing scarcity of the commodity has seen skyrocketing of goods and services, a financial burden the customers have to endure for us to maintain our margin profits,’ he said.
