Economy

WB injects Sh2bn into project to plug Mombasa water leakages

mombasa

Water vendors push a handcart on Nyerere Avenue in Mombasa. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT

The World Bank (WB) is set to fund the replacement of dilapidated water infrastructure in Mombasa County to the tune of Sh2 billion.

According to Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company managing director Peter Kimanthi, the cash will be used on phase one of the project.

The multilateral lender is funding the project through the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Programme, covering the pipeline network in Likoni, Kisauni, Changamwe, Jomvu, Nyali and on Mombasa island.

The project also involves the extension of pipeline network to areas which were not previously covered, for more residents to access piped water. Mr Kimanthi said the old pipes were laid in the 1930s and 1950s. The upgrade will start in Likoni, which has 3,400 piped water connections of the 31,000 in the county. The works in the area will cost Sh500 million, said Mr Kimanthi.

“We expect the replacement of old pipes and extension of the pipeline network in Likoni to begin next month,” he said addinf that the work is set for 2019 completion.

He said work in Changamwe, Jomvu, Port Reitz and Magongo will begin in July and that new water pipes will be laid in Kisauni, Nyali, Bombolulu and  Shanzu from November while replacements will take off on Mombasa island mid next year.

The implementation of the phase one of the project is forecast to cost between Sh12 billion and Sh15 billion.
“The entire project of replacing dilapidated water infrastructure and extension of services will take five years to complete,” he said.

He added: “When the new pipes are laid throughout our service area, it will address the major challenge of water lost through pipe bursts and leakages.”

Mr Kimanthi said the firm receives 37 million litres of water daily which is supplied in bulk by the Coast Water Services Board.

Of the 37 million litres, 22 million litres is supplied from the major source, the Baricho Water Works in Kilifi County, 10 million litres from Mzima Springs in Taita Taveta County and five million litres from Marere and Tiwi boreholes from Kwale County.

Mr Kimanthi said the county faces a huge water deficit since the current demand stands at 186 million litres against the daily 37 million litres supply.

“The reason why Mombasa is facing a major water problem is because the county lacks fresh water sources,” he said.

OPTIMISM

“As a result, we depend on supply from the neighbouring counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta which also have huge demand of consumption from residents.”

But Mr Kimanthi expressed optimism that the water problem would be addressed when the Sh20 billion Mwache dam project in Kwale County is rolled out.

He said when the first phase of the dam project is completed in 2022, the firm would receive 100 million litres of water daily.

Upon the completion of the second phase, he added, Mombasa would receive an additional 80 million litres of water daily from the new dam.