Mombasa seeking lasting solution to water-logged Ziwani Lasco ground

The Ziwani Lasco community in Mombasa is up in arms following almost two years of stagnation of rainwater at the famous Ziwani Lasco ground.

They said the stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and risks their health.

Youth can no longer play football on the field that once produced some of Harambee Stars' best players including Ali Breik, Abdi Simba, Jamalo Chimbeti and Noah Baloo, among others.

Shabbir Nurdin, who also played at the ground when he was a little boy, said the rain water has now found its way into nearby houses.

“Nobody cares. It’s like there are no human beings living here,” Nurdin said on Sunday.

Ibrahim Khamis, alias Babangida, said it is inexplicable that the situation has persisted for almost two straight years with the county doing little or nothing about it.

“This is why we feel there is something bigger going on behind the scenes,” he said.

The ground played a significant role in taming insecurity caused by youth, who formed a gang called ‘Kuzacha’ to rob people.

“This ground provided a safe space for them and they used football to get out of their wayward ways,” Nurdin said.

Latifah Abdalla, a resident, said their children keep falling sick because of the water.

“We are tired of taking our children to hospital. We are not working to take our children to hospital. We will not allow any sinister plan with this ground,” she said.

On Monday, Mombasa transport executive Dan Manyala visited the area to assess the situation.

He said the main problem is the blockage of the storm water drainage system and illegal connections. 

“This is not the first time we are here. We have been here several times. We have visited about 10 houses and we have seen the big problem,” Manyala said.

He said the blockage has affected the smooth flow of water. 

“And because people have illegally connected their sewer systems into our storm water drainage system, the whole system is overwhelmed," he added. 

The local sewerage systems, Manyala said, have been created with expertise, slopping towards the ground such that sewage flows directly into the ground. The sewage then mixes with the stagnant storm water.

“We are here to find a lasting solution to the problem because we see this as a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.

Some of the houses surrounding the Ziwani Lasco ground have been vacated because of seepage. A tour of some of the houses revealed they are still water-logged.

Last week, a meeting between the community leadership and the county government resolved to work together to find a lasting solution.

The county has now convinced a contractor to resume works after he left the site. 

The new storm water drainage system will significantly help solve the stagnation problem.

Manyala said the county departments will work together to ensure Ziwani Lasco community gets to live decently in a clean environment.

The community biodigestors, he added, will be established to help deal with the sewage.

“This community has no sewage trenches. That is why people are creating their own and illegally connecting them to the storm water drainage system,” he said.

The community has old buildings whose soak pits collapsed.

Deputy Governor Francis Thoya led a delegation to assess the situation. 

Thoya ordered the blockage of illegal connections into the drainage system. However, the community said blocking the illegal connection without an alternative is a waste of time.

“That is why the governor ordered that we come up with the community biodigestors that will serve clusters of 10 houses per one biodigestor,” Manyala said.

Mohamed Salim, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir’s political adviser, said Nassir is concerned with the matter and that is why he ordered a quick response.