Mombasa Water Shortages: Civil Society Calls for Action in Changamwe and Jomvu
October 8, 2026. A civil society organisation has called for urgent action over unreliable water supply in Changamwe, Jomvu and other parts of Mombasa. Residents told the Kenya News Agency that some households have had to buy water from vendors, while supply varies between neighbourhoods.
What is known about the interruption
Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASCO) notices dated September 12 and 18 attributed interruptions in the West Mainland, including Changamwe and Jomvu, to a leak along the Mzima pipeline in Tsavo West National Park. Haki na Usawa Organisation Executive Director Salim Suleiman said the notices did not reflect the length of the shortage residents described. The two accounts are different: the utility identified a pipeline fault, while residents and the organisation said unreliable supply predated those notices.
Resident Mary Taura told KNA that when vendor water was available, households in her area paid between Sh25 and Sh30. A resident representative said some areas, including Kipevu, received water while other parts of Changamwe and Jomvu remained without reliable service. These are attributed local accounts, not a county-wide supply survey.
What residents are asking for
The organisation called for intervention by national and county leaders and referred to the constitutional right to clean and safe water. Residents also asked MOWASCO for a clear supply schedule so households can plan around interruptions. The article records those demands; it does not report that a new schedule or restoration date has been issued.
Practical steps while supply is unreliable
Check MOWASCO’s latest service notices before travelling to a collection point or relying on a circulated rationing timetable. Store drinking water in clean, covered containers and use official utility contacts to report leaks or ask about affected locations. If buying from a vendor, ask about the water source and keep the vendor’s contact and payment record in case a supply issue needs follow-up.
What a useful utility update should include
Residents need the affected areas, the cause of the outage, the repair status, expected restoration time and any alternative supply points. Because the reports describe differences between neighbourhoods, updates should identify locations rather than imply that all of Mombasa has the same service conditions.
Sources and attribution
Residents’ accounts and the civil society organisation’s demands are reported by the Kenya News Agency. MOWASCO notices are described in that report; Daily Report KE has not independently tested water quality or verified household supply levels.
