National Housing Corporation officials could be sanctioned should they fail to fix the drainage system at Makande flats in Mvita.
Angry Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya gave the officials on Friday 12 hours to unclog the whole drainage system in the estate.
NHC manages Makande flats, collecting rent from the tenants.
Thoya was forced to cut short a function he was attending at Mikindani after residents of the estate protested the poor drainage on Friday.
Shimanzi/Ganjoni MCA Sheila Mumba was among the protestors who said the estate has become filthy, with poor drainage forcing residents to endure foul smell. They hop over patches of sewage before getting into their houses.
Thoya said the government is doing its best to give residents proper services but other entities who are involved in housing in Mombasa are giving residents a raw deal.
“But the residents will only point accusing fingers at the government because they only know us. They do not know that there are other people at play. We will not take blame for other people’s mistakes,” Thoya said.
The deputy governor, who is the Environmental executive, also unleashed his wrath on public health officers he accused of letting the filth in the estate persist for too long.
“We cannot have an estate with sewage all over like this. Until we start taking people to court is when people will realise this is a serious matter,” Thoya said.
“This matter that you are joking with is spoiling the city. As we speak, we are just about to lose a Sh20 million project at Tudor beach because of sewage.” the DG noted.
He was talking about the Go Blue-sponsored proposed public park at Tudor whose implementation now hangs in the balance because residents have directed raw sewer to the sea.
Go Blue project officials on Thursday visited the area and said they cannot implement a public park project in an area where raw sewage is being directed into the sea.
The project, if implemented, will see about 3,000 youth groups, fishermen, area residents and other stakeholders directly and indirectly benefit from the park.
Thoya said despite laws being in place, relevant authorities are reluctant to take action against culpable people destroying the environment.
“Sewage spillage has become normal in Mombasa. Unless the governor or the deputy governor roars, the situation will remain as it is. We cannot work this way. The governor or the deputy governor cannot be everywhere all the time yet public health officials are being paid salaries,” he said.
