Garissa firm halts water supply after flooding

The Garissa Water Supply Company has temporarily stopped provision of the commodity within the town and and its environs after its various water sources were flooded.  

Gawasco managing director Mohamed Dolal said the move was taken as a cautionary measure and to mitigate against electrocution, following advice from the KPLC.

“The level of the waters have increased to a level where all our pumps have been submerged. And so it was an advice from the KPLC because our main transformer and some of our pumps have already been submerged,” he said.

The MD was speaking to the press on Wednesday at the Garissa main intake plant after assessing the damage caused by the floods.

“So we were forced to shut down the system which means that currently all the lines that were giving out water to residents of Garissa remain inactive,” he added.

The Gawasco MD also advised residents to conserve the available supply. 

"We advice all our customers to reverse and use the available water sparingly during this period of interruption until normalcy."

Dolal was accompanied by County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo and other officials.

The affected boreholes include Iftin boreholes, AFTC and Ziwani boreholes, ADC boreholes and the main intake plant.

As of Wednesday, the  river level had reached an all time high of 6.5 meters, with the levels set to rise due to the ongoing rains.

The county commissioner called on residents to heed to the advice and explore other alternative means of getting water until the situation normalises.

Mwabudzo said the government was there to make sure no deaths are reported as a result of the floods.

He also spoke on boat transport to and from Garissa, calling on police and the operators to ensure that the laid down guidelines are strictly adhered to, so that no accidents occur.

“I want to repeat for the umpteenth time, those involved in carrying passengers should first and foremost exercise caution and make sure that they carry only a few people as was agreed. The police are there to make sure that this happens,” he said.

Mwabudzo said the national and county governments, as well as  non- governmental organisations will continue providing relief to flood victims through a coordinated approach.

Officials from the Kenya Red Cross have been registering IDPs who are scattered in different camps within Garissa Township.

 According to the Ministry of Interior, Garissa has the largest number of IDPs, totaling 21,597 across 11 camps.