Water shortage has hit Homa Bay town and its environs after Kenya Power disconnected the electricity supply due to unpaid bills.
Kenya Power is demanding more than Sh18.5 million from the Homa Bay government through Homa Bay Water & Sanitation Company (Homawasco) to aid the pumping of water to residents.
For one month now, residents of estates such as Makongeni, Arunda, Kapita, Sofia, Shauri Yako, Got Rabuor and Misita among others have not been getting water.
Most of them are being forced to rely on unsafe water for domestic use. Much of the source water is directly from Lake Victoria.
According to the HOMAWASCO Managing Director Tom Nyonje, the county government is working to pay the Kenya Power for reconnection.
“It’s true that there is water shortage and this has been orchestrated from the bills. We’re appealing to residents to remain patient as we sort it out,” Nyonje said.
Speaking to journalists over the matter, Nyonje said the county government is planning to purchase a new pumping machine with more capacity.
The current machine at Homawasco can pump water for a limited period which is during the day.
“We’ll install a new machine and supply water for at least six hours,” he said.
Currently, residents have resorted to using unclean water which is likely to lead to disease outbreaks.
Some also depend on water sold by vendors who use,tuk tuk, wheelbarrows and motorcycles.
Resident Emily Achieng from Shauri Yako said they do not know the sources of water they buy from vendors. Unclean and unsafe water is a recipe for disease outbreaks.
She argued that some vendors take advantage of the shortage to hike the price and become careless about the safety of the commodity.
“We have children who have developed diarrhoea because of the situation. People are spending a lot of money to buy unsafe water due to the crisis,” Achieng said.
Currently, 20 litres of water is sold at Sh30, up from sh5 or 10 depending on the distance a vendor claims to cover before they deliver the commodity.
The residents have questioned the inability by Homawasco to pump water using solar.
Eunice Adhiambo said they have been facing a perennial water shortage in Homa Bay town.
They want Homawasco to introduce solar-powered machines to address the problem.
“Let them install solar panels at the intake and treatment plant to restore water in the taps,” Adhiambo said.