Residents of Lumakanda village in Lugari Sub County have staged demonstration over prolonged lack of water after KPLC disconnected electricity thus affecting water supply in the area over debt of Sh.1.7 million debt.
Flashing protest placards while carrying empty cans the protesters who marched round Lumakanda township streets chanting slogans, said that they had chosen to take action after the county government of Kakamega failed to heed to their cry.
Led by Lumakanda market chairman Washington Shibo and Ms. Mary Muhavi the demonstrators accused the relevant ministry of doing little to address the plight despite their visit to the relevant office.
“We have been visiting the office countless times but little is being done to address the situation despite paying the water bill,” they lamented.
“If the county administration can’t manage the water, they should leave the national government to take over,” noted Shibo.
Ms. Muhavi said they have been trying to get solution for the last one and a half month but all in vain.
Efforts to present their grievances to the water officers were futile as the offices remained closed with nobody to respond to the plight.
The demonstrators who sought attentions from the sub county administrators office were locked outside the gate and barred from accessing the offices.
They have however vowed to continue with demonstration until water services are restored back in the town and its environs.
They lamented that several institutions and facilities include Lumakanda county hospital, Lumakanda Township primary and secondary schools, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College, government offices among others have been hard hit by the situation with a number of residents and students being diagnosed with typhoid.
Speaking to West Media separately area Water Officer Mr. Elijah Omenda admitted the problem noting that services were crippled after KPLC disconnected power over unpaid bill of over Sh 1.5 million.
“The debt has crippled the water supply services but we are trying to ensure we clear the debt so that we can continue delivering services to the people,”