Staff working at Mombasa Water have written a detailed open letter to President William Ruto, pleading for his urgent help and support as the water utility faces collapse.
These workers, who handle trench digging, pipe repairs, and sewer maintenance, say they are struggling daily while management continues to fail under the county government’s watch.
They are backing a recent plan announced by the Water Services Regulatory Board, known as WASREB, to take over control of the utility. The workers describe this move as the only hope they’ve had in years and are urging that it be put into action immediately.
In their letter, the employees explain that the Senate has already highlighted the collapse of Mombasa Water through several reports in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
However, they say nothing has been done. A 2024 Senate report even labeled the company financially distressed, but still, there were no reforms.
The workers believe the county government has ignored every attempt to fix the mess. They also point to serious losses revealed in Auditor General reports for three straight years, showing that many projects were either left unfinished or failed completely after being paid for.
They say millions of shillings keep disappearing with no answers or consequences.
The staff have raised questions about how nearly one billion shillings given through World Bank water and sanitation programs have been used.
According to them, most of the projects funded by that money are either not working or were poorly done. Despite being paid, contractors have delivered substandard results, and the staff are left dealing with broken infrastructure every day.
They also say that key leadership positions in the company have remained empty for over three years. Important offices like Finance, Engineering, Procurement, Human Resources, and Commercial Services have no heads, and this has made operations even slower and more frustrating for the workers.
Another major concern in the letter is the level of corruption. The employees say they have already reported wrongdoing to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Senate has even held hearings, but still, no action has been taken.
They feel this has made corruption normal at the top. Tribalism and favoritism have also taken root, dividing staff and killing team spirit.In the letter’s conclusion, the workers are united in asking the president to act fast and allow WASREB to take full control of Mombasa Water.
They say service delivery has collapsed, revenue collection is down, and employee morale is at its worst. They warn that without change, the utility will not survive. A copy of this letter has been shared with top government officials, hoping that someone finally listens and acts.
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