An acute water shortage has gripped Masalani town in Ijara subcounty following a breakdown of generators at Masalani water supply and the intake point three kilometres from the town.
Water supply to the town was cut off when the turbines at the water supply ground to a halt due to an outage caused by low power voltage.
The KPLC officer in charge Mr Silas Limo said Kenya power engineers had worked hard to ensure Masalani town in Ijara is connected to electricity despite challenges between Malindi and Garsen where transformers are not picking more power to boost the voltage as required.
A spot check by the Kenya News Agency shows that the residents have resorted to going for water at river Tana using boda bodas, and private vehicles and water bowsers with women drawing water from boreholes along Majengo, Masalani Yaroy and Kilindini villages along river Tana for essential commodities.
A water bowser of raw water from river Tana many kilometres from Masalani town is being sold by merchants at Sh8000 if at all one is lucky to get it because of the high demand for the essential commodity.
Ijara sub county water coordinator engineer Mohamed Noor and his health counterpart Dr Abdimalik Ibrahim called on the county administration to put up a standby generator at the intake and Masalani Water Supply as well as the sub county hospital to supplement the low voltage from the mains.
Dr. Ibrahim warned of a possible outbreak of diseases among residents of Masalani and Ijara towns if the situation is not addressed urgently.
However residents of Masalani led by Masalani Watchdog chairman Abdullahi Abdi, political leaders and elders have called on the Garissa County administration led by Governor Nathif Jama and CEC for Water Health and Sanitation to square out the inadequate water problem and lack of medical services at Garissa County referral hospital which they claim is a shell.
Mr. Limo said his engineers are working round the clock to ensure power supply is restored. He called for patience among residents in Masalani and Ijara towns which are connected to the national grid.
The residents called on Ijara MP Abdi Ali Sheikhow to come to their rescue as water, health, electricity and infrastructure is the most important thing a human being needs in masalani town in the 21st century.
By Mohamed Dahir
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