'Fed up': Kayole residents vacate estate over perennial water shortage

Residents of Thawabu area, Kayole, have lamented about the perennial water shortage that has lasted for six months now.

They accused unscrupulous water officials of making illegal connections and running cartels in the area.

"It is difficult to operate daily without clean water and there is a car wash close by that somehow is able to operate seven days a week with continuous flow of water," one resident, who sought anonymity, said.

He went on to say, “Any time we complain, they inform us that they are doing upgrades and the situation will be resolved soon. What upgrades are happening, yet the car wash next to where we live operates seven days a week?"

The resident complained that the estate was advised to part with Ksh60,000 to ostensibly repair broken pipes.

Residents have now resorted to vacating the estate one by one as the situation has become a pain.

"For those who are still here, we are having a difficult time having to buy water daily,” reported one Nyumba Kumi official.

The residents said they presented their grievances to Nairobi water region officials in May, but no action has been taken.

A water official, Erick Simiyu Juma, said that the issue had been forwarded to the regional officials for action.

“Let them wait for the response from the regional officials,” he said.