The Mombasa County government has launched a crackdown on illegal water connections in the county.
Water, Environment and Natural Resources Executive Fatma Awale said the illegal connections cost the county government losses in revenue due to unpaid bills worth millions of shillings.
Speaking during an inspection tour in Funga Shati in Jomvu, Ms Awale said the county government recently ordered the closure of water kiosks involved in illegal water connections.
Ms Awale noted that 70 per cent of projected revenue from sale of water is lost through illegal connection and distribution of water in the county.
She said the water ministry has discovered more than one hundred illegal connections which the government will disconnect during the operation.
“The massive water loss due to illegal connection is to blame for the frequent water crisis witnessed in the county,” said Awale.
She added, “The county government will disconnect illegal water kiosks which have led to the county losing millions of shillings in uncollected revenue.”
Ms Awale claimed that the unscrupulous water vendors collude with rogue officers from the Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company (MOWASCO) to establish the illegal connections.
She vowed to disconnect all illegal water pipelines in the county and warned corrupt officers of stern action.
Last month, the county government revoked licences of 2,500 water vendors in the six sub-counties.