Mombasa County Assembly approves motion to address illegal sewer lines, tackle pollution

The Mombasa County Assembly has approved a motion that seeks to address illegal sewer connections and environmental pollution in the county.

Tabling the motion, Tudor MCA Samir Bhaloo emphasized the importance of the Mombasa County Water and Sewerage Services Act of 2016, which will provide a structured system to deliver water and sewerage services, ensuring citizens receive high-quality provisions.

“Residents of Mombasa are facing severe environmental challenges including stormwater pollution, marine pollution and drainage issues due to illegal connections of sewer lines, particularly from high-rise buildings,” he stated.

He emphasised the need to halt illegal connections to prevent contaminated water from reaching the Indian Ocean, potentially harming marine ecosystems.

Chief Whip Priscilla Mumba urged MCA Samir to collaborate with Deputy Governor and CECM Environment Francis Thoya to halt unauthorised connections, aiming to avert waterborne disease outbreaks.

They instructed a committee comprising transportation, infrastructure, water, sanitation, environment, health services, and urban planning to meet within a week to tackle the ongoing issue.

Mombasa has been grappling with a sewage pollution problem.

Untreated sewage

In the Tudor area, residents are worried about the continuous discharge of untreated sewage from nearby residences into the sea through underground rainwater channels.

This unprocessed sewage has contaminated Tudor Beach waters and sparked significant health worries among locals.

Hussein Mohammed, a resident deeply troubled by the ongoing sewage discharge, highlighted the blatant neglect of public health and environmental protection.

He noted that the foul smell from the contaminated waters has rendered Tudor Beach practically unusable and increased the risk of waterborne illnesses, worsening the situation.

Frustrated by the authorities' inaction, residents are calling for urgent intervention.

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Environmental advocate Sammy Mohamed expressed concern about the declining state of the sea, highlighting its negative impact on marine ecosystems and human well-being.

"We're encountering major obstacles because the sewage discharge severely hampers our efforts to preserve the environment through mangrove planting. Mangroves play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems by serving as breeding grounds for fish. Moreover, they contribute to air purification by absorbing pollutants and emitting clean air," Mohamed said.