Residents of Lang’ata and students of Ngei Primary School are grappling with an acute water shortage that has persisted for nearly six months, sparking concerns about health and daily living conditions.
The situation at Ngei Primary School has become dire. The school, which has been without water for an extended period, faces growing sanitation issues. Thomas Toti, the school’s Board of Management (BOM) chairperson, reported that the lack of water has forced the institution to incur extra costs to purchase the essential resource. This has significantly impacted the school’s cleanliness and hygiene. Toti noted, “We encouraged kids to carry water in bottles from their homes, but unfortunately, the same problem has been reflected there.”
The problem extends beyond the school, affecting the broader Southlands neighborhood, an informal settlement in Lang’ata. Residents report waking up in the early hours to queue at water points. Gacheri, a local resident, shared her frustrations: “We wake up at 3 AM to fetch water, and we’re charged 30 shillings per day just to get it. If I leave a container at the water point, I might not get any water at all, even when I return later.”
The situation is compounded by illegal water connections diverting resources from a local borehole. According to Mugambi, another resident, these illegal activities have led to a severe reduction in the available water supply. “Formerly, when this borehole was dug, there was plenty of water, and it was beneficial to us. But for the last six months, there have been many illegal connections, and water has been diverted to estates, leaving residents without enough water,” he explained.
Local businesses have also felt the brunt of the water scarcity. Ann, who owns a local restaurant, highlighted the economic impact of the shortage. “To be honest, we are affected by the water shortage. You can wake up to prepare meals in the hotel and find no water. When you ask the cart pushers to bring you water, they often find none, and sometimes they have to go all the way to Kibera to get some. We have no water here,” she lamented.
The water shortage has also hit vendors hard. Mwendwa, a water vendor who relies on county water trucks, noted that his business has suffered significantly. “I work fetching water, and I usually get it from the county water trucks. I mostly sell it to hotels, but now the water has become scarce, and I’m selling it for 30 shillings, so business is down, and there are no customers,” he said.
The ongoing water crisis in Lang’ata and Southlands highlights a critical need for immediate intervention. The situation at Ngei Primary School exemplifies the broader issues faced by the community, emphasizing the urgent requirement for a sustainable solution to address both the immediate water shortages and the long-term infrastructure needs.
As residents continue to face the daily challenge of securing water, it is clear that coordinated efforts from local authorities, water service providers, and community stakeholders are essential to resolving this pressing issue. The health and well-being of both the students and the broader community depend on finding an effective and lasting solution to this water crisis.
