Garissa residents decry four-year water shortage

A section of Garissa residents have decried a four-year water shortage in the county saying the authorities have turned a blind eye to their plight despite their numerous protests.

The residents claimed that despite paying for water subscriptions every month, they have not received constant supply of water and the situation has resulted in various protests to the Garissa Water and Sewerage and Company (GAWASCO) offices in an attempt to get their attention.

Mrs Stahil Mohamed Abdi, a resident of Bula Rahma in Garissa Town, told Citizen Digital that she is forced to wake up early in search of water from the neighborhood, sometimes to a town which is about 3 kilometers away before preparing two of her four children for school.

She said women, children and elders are the most affected as many children have stopped going to school to accompany their mothers in their search for water, which they said has been a rare find for a long time, making it hard for smooth running of daily activities.

The residents wondered why the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company is unable to give water to some parts of Garissa Town while River Tana is less than 3km from the town center.

However, when contacted for comment the public relations officer for Garissa Water and Sewerage Company (GAWASCO), Mr Omar Abdullahi, said the water company is aware that there are places in the outskirts of the town that have not been having water for some time.

He refuted claims by local residents that the water problem in the area was continuous, saying it was only brought about by blockage which the company is dealing with.