Tourists arrive at the Malindi airport in Kilifi County .(Photo-Daily Nation)
Tourism stakeholders in Malindi and Watamu want the Kilifi County and national Government to get a permanent solution to the constant Water crisis in the area or else they will close business as it had negative effects to the sector.
The stakeholders said for the past few years there has been regular electricity disconnection at the Water supply plant in Baricho due to conflicts between Coast Water Service Board and Water companies in Malindi, Kilifi, and Mombasa which was a big threat to the tourism industry.
They spoke during a stakeholders meeting which brought together investors and General Managers of tourism resorts in Malindi and Watamu after about 10 days without water in their hotels.
The Aim of the meeting was to air their views on the water disaster and seek ways of getting a permanent solution.Some of the speakers said if the trend won’t stop they may be forced to close down business since it was difficult to operate without water a time when the industry was recovering well after over four years of low tourism numbers.
To them, water was crucial not only for the hotels but every resident in the county and wondered how the authorities were not taking the issue seriously to bring an end to the supremacy battles among the government institutions.
Daniele Tirito the General Manager of Jacaranda Beach resort in Watamu said they have been forced to incur extra costs to get water so as to ensure their clients stay comfortable.
“We cannot afford to have increased budget, our situation is very complicated, our clients cannot listen to the excuses if they don’t get water, we may be forced to close down business if things won’t change,’’ he said.
Whenever there is water disaster Tirito said they have to buy water from outside, and getting the commodity is very difficult.
Melinda Rees the Hemingways Watamu Operations Manager said Malindi and Watamu were facing severe water shortage following problem between two parastatals.
She said it is impossible to run the tourism sector without water and wondered why after every two months water supply had to be cut off from Baricho Water supply by the Kenya Power and Lightening.
“The Government needs to sort the problem out between the parastatals, people are paying for water services,’’ she said.
Ravi Rohra Watamu Bay resort General Manager said investors are worried that in case of a disaster like fire it could lead to huge losses when there is no water in Kilifi County.
“We need to know whose problem it is, in case of fire there will be a disaster, most of the hotels have makuti thatched roofs,’’ he said
Freddie Del Curatolo the coordinator of Malindi Watamu tourism stakeholders said the problem and they were worried that even though the water was reconnected on Tuesday the same problem would recur at the end of next month.
Other hotels represent during the meeting were from Garoda beach resort, Barracuda, Lily Palm, Ocean Sports, Twiga and sun palm among others.