Tourism stakeholders in Malindi and Watamu want the government to end constant water shortages.
They said the constant water crisis is adversely affecting their business.
"For the past few years, there has been regular electricity
disconnection at the Baricho Water supply plant in Malindi
due to conflicts between Coast Water Service Board and Water companies in Malindi, Kilifi and Mombasa. This is a big threat to the tourism industry,' Daniele Tirito the General Manager of Jacaranda Beach resort in Watamu said.
He spoke
during a stake holders meeting which brought together investors and General Managers of tourism resorts in Malindi and Watamu after about 10 days without water in their hotels.
Some of the speakers said if the trend won’t stop they may be forced to close down business
since it was difficult to operate without water.
Tirito said they have always been forced to incur extra costs to get water so as to ensure their clients stay comfortable.
“We cannot afford to have increased budget , our situation is very complicated, our clients cannot listen to the excuses if they don’t get water, we may be forced to close down business if things won’t change,’’ he said.
Whenever there is water disaster Tirito said they have to buy water from outside, and getting the commodity is very difficult.
Melinda Reeus, the Hemingways Watamu Operations
Manager said Malindi and Watamu were facing severe water shortage following the problem between two parastatals.
She said it is impossible to run the tourism sector without water and wondered why after every two months water supply had to be cut off from Baricho Water supply by the Kenya Power and Lightening.
“The Government needs to sort the problem out between the parastatals, people are paying for water services,’’ she said.
Other hotels represent during the meeting were from Garoda beach resort, Barracuda, Lily Palm, Ocean Sports, Twiga and sun palm among others.