KENYA: Poor Sewage Systems, Poor Water Supply, Make-Shift Stalls; Kakamega Municipal Council is a Disgrace

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Submitted by Alexander Chagema on Fri, 04/11/2011 - 11:16am

Service provision by the Kakamega Municipal Council is so erratic that from whichever angle one looks at it, the danger of an outbreak of epidemics is imminent.

From raw sewage discharging into a river from which residents of some estates fetch drinking water, to the rats and flies from garbage heaps dotting estates, residents are at serious risk.

The municipal council has failed to provide water and sewerage services despite the fact that residents dutifully pay the taxes and levies meant to improve service delivery.

Blocked and burst sewage lines are an eyesore and the stench emanating from the spillage; quite nauseating.

Piped water is a pipe dream with the constant blame games between the council, contracted private water companies meant to supply water, the power supply company and the ministry of water services.

The much acclaimed Tindinyo water project, specifically designed to ease the perennial water shortages in western province remains a white elephant even after it was completed over half a year ago.

Going by the amount and spread of garbage heaps, it is apparent that the council does not see the need to invest in dust bins.

At virtually every door step and estate roads, one encounters an assortment of refuse ranging from food leftovers, used condoms, human waste, plastic bags and bottles.

At some point, instead of the council professionally collecting refuse, it irregularly allowed a football club called Kakamega Muslim Youth Football Club to use its youthfull members to collect garbage using plastic bags at a charge of twenty shillings per household.

Harassment

While the council excels at harassing small scale traders by constantly moving them from one extreme of the town to another, it has completely failed to enforce any orderliness.

In the evenings, hawkers take over the streets and verandas.

On the kakamega webuye road, there are make-shift stalls without separation lines between those dealing in ready to eat food, shoes, clothing and retail items.

Market stalls literally hug the road shoulders and considering that there is heightened activity around the area, the presence of a matatu, boda boda and motor cyclists terminus is an accident waiting to happen.

Matatu operators have practically over powered the council askaris, ignored the existing by laws and the ensuing proliferation of illegal pick up and drop zones makes the streets very dangerous for pedestrians.

It is a miracle that some of the illegal structures sprouting every day have not yet claimed a life.