Mombasa County has had water problems from last year when the Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) cut off supply of fresh water over a Ksh. 608 million debt. The lack of fresh water has led to to an outbreak of Hepatitis A which has so far affected about 114 people.
The County doesn’t seem to be doing anything to mitigate the situation and on top of that they recently unveiled a development plan, Mombasa Vision 2035 (MV2035). The launch of MV2035 saw the county spend millions of shillings. This led to Mombasa resident Njooro to ask how the County expected to build a world class city when they can’t even keep a market clean.
He was promptly called a hasidi (malicious person) by someone Tweeting under the Twitter handle @CafeArabika. It turns out that there are those on Social Media who are out to silence anyone who call out the County leadership over its failures.
This conversation led to Mombasa residents organizing to create a conversation on Twitter about the lack of water and the County’s inability to help its citizens. The Tweets focused on the problem, the practical ways the county can solve it and reflections on how the County got into the water fix in the first place. The Twitter conversation was had around the hashtag #MombasaDebate and it ended up trending at number 1 in Kenya.
Here are some of Tweets from the #MombasaDebate conversation
Points to think about #MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/diUZzXZiVM
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
#MombasaDebate
Theres a hepatitis epidemic that leaders want to call an outbreak..their effort to create awareness ? pic.twitter.com/RHafaIY6Am— OneVeryAngryKenyan.. (@desunovabeach) April 13, 2016
For many weeks we have been complaining of non existent water supplies & sanitary dangers that causes..we were called names..#MombasaDebate
— OneVeryAngryKenyan.. (@desunovabeach) April 13, 2016
The HepA crisis affectin the Island County is fueled by the persistent lack in water supply#MombasaDebate #Twajijua pic.twitter.com/JBFoVZNDwn
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
What is so annoying is how if you attempt to ask questions, you are labeled #hasidi#MombasaDebate #Twajijua
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
Conspiracy theories aside, why is fresh water supply an issue in the Island County?#MombasaDebate#twajijua pic.twitter.com/22OYbJperi
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
50% of Mombasa residents do not have access to clean water #MombasaDebate #Twajijua
— Albeity (@F_Albeity) April 13, 2016
@clansewe Indeed;the water supplied by vendors during such shortages is of dubious sanitation &quality
— Anne Nyaguthii (@anyaguthi) April 13, 2016
Waste water management in Msa is an issue when you have residential areas like Tudor lack a proper sewerage system#twajijua#MombasaDebate
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
The County gov’t wants to conduct “mass chlorination”, but where is the water to “chlorinate”?#MombasaDebate#twajijua
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
Less than 300k residents of Msa have access to sewerage lines out of a population of more than 1million #MombasaDebate #Twajijua
— Albeity (@F_Albeity) April 13, 2016
Scarcity of water in Msa has led to exponential growth of private water industry thereby creating overnight millionaires #MombasaDebate
— Feisal (@FeisalAlbakry) April 13, 2016
A HepA outbreak in Mombasa.#MombasaDebate #twajijua pic.twitter.com/8Q1a6r3Qbi
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
Why is Mombasa county owing Coast Water Services Board millions of shillings? Yet most of us pay our bills #MombasaDebate
— Liv Pope (@Shirley_Sein) April 13, 2016
HepA facts (but main mitigating factor – clean water supply – missing)#twajijua#MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/RH9gfvkgqM
— Sewe Saldanha (@ClanSewe) April 13, 2016
Lack of fresh water has forced residents to dig deeper into their pockets to get water for drinking and domestic use #MombasaDebate
— Feisal (@FeisalAlbakry) April 13, 2016
Mombasa County owes CWSB 608million leading to disconnection of water. All other counties have paid. Why not Msa? #MombasaDebate #Twajijua
— Albeity (@F_Albeity) April 13, 2016
@wenrmombasa & @MombasaCountyKe wants us to believe it isn’t incompetence that caused this epidemic..#MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/0uODexEwqE
— OneVeryAngryKenyan.. (@desunovabeach) April 13, 2016
Soon water will become a preserve of the rich if remedial measures are not taken urgently to safeguard interests of the poor #MombasaDebate
— Feisal (@FeisalAlbakry) April 13, 2016
Due to unpaid bills by our county some of us have settled for bottled water which we are also unsure of it’s safety #MombasaDebate
— Liv Pope (@Shirley_Sein) April 13, 2016
In Leisure/Vok/Kisauni the mushrooming flats literary have employed someone to fill underground tanks with salty water daily #MombasaDebate
— Jackson Gevera (@JackGev) April 13, 2016
1. Somehow, KTN got to report on the hepA crisis in Mombasa but lay the blame wholly on ‘rogue’ water bottlers #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
2. KTN failed to address the real cause of hepA crisis in Mombasa. Lack of safe drinking water due to county govt failing #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
3. Curiously no one is talking abt county govt failing citizens when water was disconnected. Hundreds suffering with hepA #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
HepA has a long incubation period. The reports could get worse. Is someone suppressing the true picture ? #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
#MombasaDebate We are blessed in proximity to have one of the largest water masses in the world and still thirst for that valuable drop !
— Jackson Gevera (@JackGev) April 13, 2016
#MombasaDebate, what kind of MV2035 sails without water?
— Nyanyuki T (@NyanyukiT) April 13, 2016
@FeisalAlbakry @Shirley_Sein Kwanza areas like Old Town (Kibokoni, Kuze, Baghani etc) have not had fresh water supply to home since the 90’s
— The African Oak (@Mvitarian) April 13, 2016
I know someone who has profited from selling fresh water for years from a pipe at Bonje. No drop in our taps #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
Almost all households use borehole water for cooking, bathing etc and mineral water for drinking. I do that myself. #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
@FeisalAlbakry @Shirley_Sein more than 95℅ of old town residents rely entirely on untreated, terribly salty borehole water
— The African Oak (@Mvitarian) April 13, 2016
No we are not OK. We need clean drinking water in our taps. #MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/yO92oISUM8
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
So no fresh water in the taps but there’s fresh water for sale! #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
Too many boreholes and septic tanks in proximity. Tough challenge, but the county Govt must sort water issue head on #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
And the issue is not just water. Garbage collection? #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
Irony: Msa sits on the shores of the Indian Ocean, a massive water body, if harnessed could be utilized for both domestic & industrial use
— Feisal (@FeisalAlbakry) April 13, 2016
What about the water tankers? Is the water safe? Who does the quality checks? #MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/aBuAe7RDVm
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
The county had tried with the garbage trucks but how long did it last? Never saw them in the neighborhood either #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
Beyond the statements by the county Govt. Can we have a proper effort to contain HepA ? #MombasaDebate
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
Nimezoea kumeza mate nkate kiu. Mkiniambia kuna outbreak ya Hep A na yaletwa na maji machafu, hapo kwa maji kwantatiza #MombasaDebate
— Jumuia ya Pwani (@Santus04) April 13, 2016
I have said this before…our hygiene level is at its lowest to have an hepA outbreak in Mombasa. #MombasaDebate
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
We are just citizens asking for clean & safe drinking water for all. Rich and Poor. Label us as you please, but… pic.twitter.com/2pPWiosjw5
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
What can the county do to control and prevent HepA? Mass door to door campaign. @HassanAliJoho can something be done. It’s alarming.
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
For a county that is planning an ambitious housing project, lacking an essential need like water is just appalling #MombasaDebate
— Better Call Özil (@ThatguyDavy) April 13, 2016
@njooro we need accountability and transparency …plus prevention of disease not fire fighting missions #Mombasadebate #hasidi #twajijua
— Rey (@BintyAli) April 13, 2016
I am scared to eat from anywhere and I am at work the whole day. Either I carry lunch or stay hungry the whole day. HepA has scared me.
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
People reuse water and use kisima water to cook. So disgusting #Mombasadebate
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
Mombasa leaders are mostly illiterate, focused on their own agenda, corrupt to deal conclusively with our issues #MombasaDebate
— Marie (@kenyanesse) April 13, 2016
I am grateful for the improvements made on Coast General hospital. HepA would’ve been preventable if we had clean sources #MombasaDebate
— Better Call Özil (@ThatguyDavy) April 13, 2016
There some labels of water I never buy from streets vendors.zatengezwa kisauni and bamburi with no proper hygiene measures.#Mombasadebate
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
Millions were spent on just the #MV2035 but county water bill remains unpaid. PRIORITIES #MombasaDebate #Twajijua pic.twitter.com/8Cioykp4wq
— Albeity (@F_Albeity) April 13, 2016
@HassanAliJoho #MombasaDebate you will have nobody to implement vision 2035 as they’ll all be down (am just refusing to write dead)
— Nyina Mwana J (@NyinaMwanaJ) April 13, 2016
@njihiakelvin @HassanAliJoho In the 70’s, water was connected from 6am and shut at 6pm. Kama ni vigumu, warudie mpango huo. #MombasaDebate
— Bernard Lewella (@LewellaBee) April 13, 2016
The governor wants to cook the Msa cake (vision 2035) with no water. Je itakuaje? #MombasaDebate
— Nyina Mwana J (@NyinaMwanaJ) April 13, 2016
The county govt has failed because it focuses more on national politics instd of dealing with matters affecting its residents #MombasaDebate
— IG;@KELVINSKIP90 (@or_kelvin) April 13, 2016
Why should Kenyan rivers flow into the Indian Ocean that does need them whie Mombasa residents are thirsty? #MombasaDebate
— Ekuru Aukot (@EAukot) April 13, 2016
We have a constitution,we are kenyan citizens,we have rights..do @wenrmombasa & @MombasaCountyKe realise water isnt a favor..#MombasaDebate
— OneVeryAngryKenyan.. (@desunovabeach) April 13, 2016
Itawezekanaje kwamba maswala ya maji masafi yamekua kizungumkuti kwa gavana wa Msa. Deal with the water issue first notMV2035 #MombasaDebate
— Nyina Mwana J (@NyinaMwanaJ) April 13, 2016
Governor Joho can’t even provide fresh drinking water for his people. Now, how should we trust his vision 2035 #MombasaDebate
— Stan Anyumba (@aNYuMBAke) April 13, 2016
Citizens: HepA will finish us. Bring back fresh water.
MCG staff: twathia maji dawa ya chlorine wacheni papara bossi #MombasaDebate— cityzen (@JamesAwandu) April 13, 2016
What’s the way forward for water issues in Mombasa? #MombasaDebate
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
Is the county even aware of water cartels in Kisauni, Magongo, Chaani? Hoarding water waiting to sell it at ridiculous prices #MombasaDebate
— Better Call Özil (@ThatguyDavy) April 13, 2016
Citizens: walipeni CWSB deni la maji
MCG Staff:Hayo ni madeni ya manispaa hatuyatambui sisi tulianza kazi juzi #MombasaDebate— cityzen (@JamesAwandu) April 13, 2016
Citizens: Hakuna maji huku kwetu
MCG staff: waziri yuko seminar akija mtashughulikiwa
??#MombasaDebate— cityzen (@JamesAwandu) April 13, 2016
Water crisis should be solved once and for all. #MombasaDebate
— ~Jammy~ (@mombasa_gal) April 13, 2016
Sisi hata we dont even have a meter anymore…twatumia maji ya kisima miaka yote! https://t.co/LINtfHEPtR
— Kibokoni Gal (@Mrs_Kibbz) April 13, 2016
@mombasa_gal 2.The county leadership should spearhead a massive civic education campaign on issues of hygiene.Its very paramount.
— Abdul Nassir (@abdulnassir21) April 13, 2016
Can the desalination plant happen soon. Because water. pic.twitter.com/vMN4CwQPwo
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
Will a desalination plant solve our water issues in Mombasa. Will it be sustainable? #MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/HOv3WgK8jm
— Nguru (@njooro) April 13, 2016
Water supply and garbage collection are supply chain issues. Experts can brainstorm for cheaper and feasible solutions. #MombasaDebate
— Talal Ibn Abadi (@ibn_ubady) April 13, 2016
Mombasa county has no clean drinking water hence HepatitisA but we’re focused on vision 2035 for who thirst stricken dead ppl#MombasaDebate
— Schea Of Sheba (@scheafferoo) April 13, 2016
@njooro In the long term yes we need to increase capacity, but currently I believe is most houses are cut from access of the waterline
— Khalid (@Haliid55) April 13, 2016
Clean water is fundamental for life and health. It is a pre-requisite to the realization of all other human rights. #MombasaDebate
— Law Abiding Citizen (@itsJabu) April 13, 2016
For the longest time Msa has been havin issues with sanitation,The county needs to take care of the garbage once and for all #MombasaDebate
— Louy (@KennLouy) April 13, 2016
@njooro And those guys (meter readers)f rom MOWASCO know the areas affected by vandalism of meter lines. #MombasaDebate
— Khalid (@Haliid55) April 13, 2016
@njooro We need improvement in the Mombasa water line infrastructure asap! Piping all areas without discrimination #MombasaDebate
— Khalid (@Haliid55) April 13, 2016
Rings a bell? #MombasaDebate pic.twitter.com/8hHGtjNqBh
— Law Abiding Citizen (@itsJabu) April 13, 2016
Been paying for water for like 5months na sijapokea maji for all those months #MombasaDebate
— IG : @skawebz (@skawebz) April 13, 2016
Soon water will become a preserve of the rich if remedial measures are not taken urgently to safeguard interests of the poor #MombasaDebate
— Feisal (@FeisalAlbakry) April 13, 2016