Three Tana River legislators have accused Governor Dhadho Godhana’s administration of failing to resolve a water shortage in the county.
Woman Representative Rehema Hassan, Bura MP Ali Wario and Senator Juma Wario blamed the county's water problems on the administration's inefficiencies.
Rehema asked the county leadership to declare how much was allocated for the water department and present the expenditure records.
“The county government received Sh7 billion last financial year alone. We have been paying for services without delivery. In Madogo we are paying Sh1,700 monthly while for three months we have not received a drop of water,” Rehema said in Madogo.
Rehema said that the county water officials have refused to address shortages so that they can sell water expensively to the residents with trucks.
“We do not want to be supplied water by these water trucks. We want a permanent solution for water challenges in this county,” Rehema said.
“The county assembly must also harmonise the water tariffs so that we don’t have some people paying Sh500 while others are paying Sh1,700. We are all equal before the law,” she said.
The MP asked the county government to install a solar power system for pumping water to the residents if Kenya Power supply is expensive.
MP Wario said the water crisis would continue until the governor leaves office.
“Water challenges in this county cannot end until Godhana goes home. We are ready to unite our people so that we can bring someone else who will adequately address water challenges,” Wario said.
Senator Wario called on the governor to address water shortages in the county that are "getting out of hand".
“The people tell me I am a friend of the governor but if the governor cannot serve water to the people of Madogo, Hola and Bura, that is not a friend that will help me. My friend is the one who will serve our people," Wario said.
During a recent event, Tana River Water and Sewerage Company managing director William Jilo said that they do not have the authority to review water tariffs.
Last week, Frontier Counties Development Council CEO Simba Guleid called for better ways of dealing with drought and water challenges in the Northern region.
