It's a dry Christmas for Mombasa residents as taps run dry

A spot check established water vendors were recording booming business.

Mombasa residents will spend Christmas celebrations without water following a breakdown of the only pipeline that supplies the area.

Water officials attributed the acute shortage to vandalism of the Baricho pipeline at the Nyali bridge on Monday.

The thieves made away with valves and stoppers forcing the Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company to reroute water to Nyali and Kisauni to avoid waste and allow repair works.

Managing Director Anthony Njaramba said repair work has started and normal supply might be restored by tomorrow.

He, however, noted that they have encountered challenges in getting the valves and stoppers from suppliers since the hitch occurred during the holidays.

Njaramba told journalists they have been forced to divert water supply to the north coast instead of letting it flow into the Island to minimise losses.

"At the moment repair work is going on to correct the anomaly before water supply to the island resumes. We expect normal supplies by Thursday or Friday," he said.

Njaramba, who declined to say how the residents will cope without the supply of the essential commodity, assured them the supply will resume soonest.

A spot check established water vendors were recording booming business.

Water bowsers have been moving from one estate to another while water vendors in carts have hiked the price per jerrican from Sh20 to Sh50.

The most affected areas are Tudor, Makande, Majengo and Ganjoni in Mvita constituency.

Last month Kenya Power disconnected electricity supply to the Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company Ltd over an outstanding bill.

The move led to an acute shortage for residents despite ongoing water rationing.

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Mombasa Christmas