Mung’aro links Kilifi water shortage to rising investment demand

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has attributed the county’s persistent Kilifi water shortage partly to increased demand following a rise in investment, saying his administration is relying on national government interventions to address the crisis.

Speaking during a County Mashinani forum in Mbudzi, Ganze Constituency, Mung’aro acknowledged that residents were experiencing water shortages but said the problem was beyond his office’s immediate capacity to resolve.

He said the county was banking on the completion of the Mwache Dam, which he said would ease pressure on the Baricho water supply system by ending Mombasa’s reliance on water from Baricho.

According to Mung’aro, President William Ruto had assured him that once the dam became operational, Mombasa would stop drawing water from Baricho, leaving the supply for Kilifi County.

“The Kilifi water shortage is real and I cannot deny that. I have addressed so many things but the water shortage goes beyond my office. The national government is installing new pumps at Baricho and this will help in addressing the problem,” he said

The governor also said the national government was planning to install a new pipeline for the Mzima water supply system to replace the ageing infrastructure, which he said was prone to frequent leakages.

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He linked disruptions in water supply from Mzima Springs to shortages affecting Mariakani, Bamba, Kaloleni and Rabai.

Mung’aro expressed hope that the newly established Coast Water Works Development Agency would help address water supply challenges in the region.

He said repairing the Mzima pipeline would significantly improve water availability in affected areas, although he did not give a timeline for the proposed works.

The governor said his administration had ordered three new water bowsers to support emergency water distribution as it pursues longer-term solutions.

“If I had the powers to address the problem immediately, I would do it tomorrow,” he said, appealing to residents to remain patient as the county seeks ways to improve supply.

The governor is on the fith day of the County Mashinani where he moves with his executive committee to all the sub counties to engage directly with residents.