Kisii County Executive for Water, Energy and Environment has urged Kisii town residents to be patient as her ministry fixes water shortage and constant power blackouts that have paralyzed business operations in the town lately.
Speaking at her office on Friday, Masela Otuke defended the county government from scathing attacks from area residents terming the water and electricity menace as ‘a small concern that will be combated in few days’.
In the last three days, all residents have been forced to walk to nearby streams to fetch water. The problem has been associated to inconsistent power supply that has made it difficult for Kisii Water Company to supply water to homesteads.
According to Jane Wanjiku, a resident of Mwembe estate, the county government has failed to protect her residents from shortages of basic needs.
“This government has failed to address the issue of water and electricity. They just concentrate on collecting taxes and fail to execute their obligations,” said Njeri.
She pointed out that despite the efforts of the county government in collaboration with KPLC to launch electricity maintenance exercise in October, the issue is still a big concern since power blackouts are the order of the day in the town.
“You cannot say that maintenance of electricity is done yet we experience it almost daily. This has even sabotaged water supply and you can guess how we are suffering,” noted Ms. Njeri.
However, Otuke has assured all residents that everything is in place to curb the menace.
“We are in touch with Kenya Power and Kisii Water Company and they have assured us of an expeditious action from the two entities,” said Otuke.
Mwembe residents, majority of who are students of Kisii University have threatened to paralyze county operations if the problems are not fixed by the end of business on Friday.
“This is a violation of human needs in totality. We are giving the county government up to Monday to give a positive feedback or else we exercise our democratic right of demonstrating,” said President – Elect of Kisii University Rodgers Nyanumba.