Residents of Teachers Estate in Nakuru-East are threatening to sue the county government over the persistent water shortage in the area, as others fear for their health as contaminated water vendors make a booming business.
The Chairman of Teachers Estate Council of Elders Andrew Keiru, while talking to this writer at the council’s offices at Makutano centre said the estate has for long been a victim of insufficient water supply as compared to other residential areas in the town.
Keiru warned that the council would lobby for support of the residents in a bid to seek legal intervention, to compel the county government to implement sustainable water supply services in the area that is home for over 300,000 people.
According to the elder, the area has suffered an acute water supply for the last three months without any intervention from the county government’s department of water supply and the Nakuru Water Supply Company that actively collects revenue from subscribers.
“Although the current drought season has greatly contributed to insufficient water supply in the entire region, our area has been worst affected. We normally receive water two times a week; on Sunday and Thursday, but the rationing has since reduced to Thursdays only,” said Keiru.
“We still pay our water bills as subscribers but the government and supplier are not seriously committed to serving members of the public. We want them compelled to live up to the expectations of the subscribers,” he added.
He added that the acute shortage in the area is partly caused by un-maintained water pipes and supply stations, which suffer from broken pipes among other mechanical problems.
James Kimani, a resident, who is also a landlord said the persistent water supply problem in the area was drastically affecting business and rental services.
According to the Kimani, the problem was making a booming business to contaminated water hawkers, thus creating another dimension of the water problem related to public health risks.