A civil society organisation is demanding urgent intervention by both national and county government leaders over what it describes as a prolonged water crisis affecting residents of Changamwe, Jomvu sub counties and the wider Mombasa County, warning it may invoke constitutional rights to protest if the situation is not resolved.
Salim Suleiman, Executive Director of the Haki na Usawa Organisation, said the group had taken note of public notices issued by the Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (MOWASCO), dated 12th and 18th September 2026, attributing supply interruptions in the West Mainland region, including Jomvu and Changamwe sub-counties, to a leakage along the Mzima pipeline at Tsavo West National Park.
“In our view, this notice is just a public relations exercise. The reality on the ground is that there has been no water even before the notice,” Suleiman said, adding that residents across Changamwe, Jomvu and nearly the entire county have gone months without clean and safe water, forcing households to rely on expensive and unsafe vendor water.
He said the burden falls heaviest on women, children and low-income families, describing the situation, as “a total failure” by MOWASCO.
Citing Article 43(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees every person the right to clean and safe water, Suleiman said the organisation’s demands include immediate intervention by Mombasa elected national and county leaders to pursue the matter, the disbandment or resignation of the Coast Water Board over its failure to execute its mandate, and the immediate resumption of water services.
Failure to heed the demands, the organisation said it would exercise its rights under Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to picket and petition.
Mary Taura, a resident of the Chaani area, said the prevailing lack of clean water has forced many households to buy water from vendors at between Sh25 and Sh30, when available, and described the hardship of having to rely on salty water in its absence.
“We can’t even drink clean water; it is difficult to drink salt water,” she said, appealing for help for affected residents.
George Ondara, a resident representative from the Changamwe area, said an earlier public participation forum with a water engineer had promised a quick resolution, but called the MOWASCO notice “just a PR” gesture.
He said water supply remains inconsistent across different parts of Changamwe and Jomvu, with some areas such as Kipevu receiving water, while others go without for extended periods, and called for a clear, published supply schedule so residents know when to expect water.
Ondara also raised concerns over possible corruption within MOWASCO, alleging that some unauthorized vendors appear to have preferential access to water supply and called for an internal investigation into the utility’s staff.
Mzee Oksimba, a representative for Port Reitz Ward, appealed directly to the Mombasa Governor to urgently address the crisis, reminding him that affected residents are voters.
He said residents remain vulnerable without clean water. He noted that concerns over water cartels have persisted across different county administrations and called for closer collaboration between national and county governments to address the issue, which he said continues to deny ordinary residents reliable access to water despite repeated promises.
by Joan Kinuthia
