Kenya: Maktau Locals Protest Acute Water Shortage

Residents of Maktau location in Mwatate have protested the persistent water shortage that has hit the constituency in the past one year.

The residents complained that they risk their lives walking long distances in search of water in the area full of marauding elephants from the Tsavo West and East National Parks.

A spot check by the Star revealed that the residents only receive water when it rains in Taita hills. For the last four years it has not rained in Maktau.

“Pipes run dry after two to three days. We came to this watering point at 4am, it is now midday and we are yet to get water due to the long ques,” lamented Anne Mwakisakenyi.

She said the problem has affected their children’s education since they are forced to skip classes to help their parents search for water.

“Sometimes the lines are too long forcing us to sleep at the watering point.The water trickles very little causing a heavy jam,” Mwakisakenyi said.

She said they light fires at the water point to scare away wildlife from the nearby parks at night.

Mwakisakenyi said sometimes the water shortage is caused by vandals who break the water pipes and sell them to metal dealers in Mwatate town.

Kenya Wildlife Services assistant director in charge of the Tsavo conservation area, Wilson Korir, said that they are formulating plans to construct dams and water points inside and outside the park in order to avoid the conflict between human, livestock and wildlife.