Water crisis hits Yumbe town council

YUMBE - Residents of Yumbe town council are grappling with a worsening water crisis as demand for clean water continues to rise. With the town’s population hitting 61,000, the existing water sources are failing to meet demand. 

The situation is exacerbated by prolonged dry spells, forcing many, especially women and girls, to wake up as early as 4:00am to search for water. 

Some even sleep at water points to secure their turn, while others walk over 2km to fetch water from neighbouring sub-counties. 

The town council relies mainly on a motorised piped water system, managed by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and constructed in 2002. 
Additional water sources include privately and publicly owned boreholes and shallow wells. 

Public health crisis 

Faima Pagu, 30, a resident of Milia cell in Areguyi ward, said despite having piped water at her home, supply is irregular. 

“I have tap water, but it comes for less than two hours before going off,” she said. Pagu said residents spend more than six hours at water points to fill a jerrycan. 

The crisis is affecting hygiene and public health, as households struggle to secure enough water for basic needs,such as cooking, bathing and washing clothes. 

Shamim Bako, 22, an expectant mother from Bagdad cell, said the crisis has forced families to compromise on hygiene. 

“In our family of four, we now use only one jerrycan of water daily, mainly for cooking and drinking. Bathing and washing clothes have become optional,” she said. 

Bako also noted that fights frequently break out at water points as people struggle to fetch water.

Water prices hiked 

The high demand has also led to an increase in water prices, with a jerrycan now costing sh2,000, up from sh500. “Bodaboda riders, who fetch water from Kochi river, have also hiked their prices,” Bako added. 

Hawa Onzia, an elderly woman from Milia cell, said the crisis has hit vulnerable groups the hardest. 

“At the water sources, no one considers our vulnerability. We queue for hours, like everyone else. It’s even worse for children,” she said.

Onzia urged the Government to improve the piped water system and reduce water tariffs. 

Water officer speaks out 

Bernad Magara, Yumbe’s district water officer, said safe water coverage stands at 48%, with Yumbe town council at only 40%, far below the district average. 

He cited low water tables as another challenge. “The water system can no longer sufficiently meet demand. The water tables have dropped, requiring advanced systems to extract and distribute water,” he said. 

Magara revealed that the water ministry is conducting an assessment for a major renovation of the town’s water system.

NWSC responds 

Zubeir Issa Arima, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation branch manager, acknowledged the crisis, attributing it to the town’s rapid population growth. 

“The current water system was built over 20 years ago, for a population of less than 13,000, but the town now has over 61,000 people,” he said. 

Arima also noted that the aging infrastructure has led to frequent leaks, causing irregular water supply.