Kisumu City has no water

Job has captured our concerns pretty well down here.

But as some of our colleagues make noise about development in Nyanza, KTN [Kenya Television Network] brought some sad reality into our houses last evening; that Kisumu City has been without water for the last 3 years. Yet, we literally sit on the biggest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Victoria.

The last time we had flowing water from the tap in Kisumu, was when Moi was still the president of this country. And when the current working president assumed office, water promptly disappeared from the taps. And that has remained the case up to now.

The game plan was apparently clear; deny them water even as they see the lake, and you will subjugate them.

Water is life, water is everything, and anybody denying you access to water is akin to someone denying you life. In the midst of this, I would want to hear the voices of the perennial gramblers who normally defend what they call environmental impact assessment.

I want to hear the voices of Tegi Obanda, Jacton Omuga, Chris Owala, and that of their perennial intruders like Orina Nyamwamu, Wanyee Kinuthis. Now that we have not had water in Kisumu under this working government, would it be bad if we approached some mzungu to come and fix the problem.

You see, again, the African is failing to give water to a town that should be a hub of business in East Africa.

The fact that the taps of Kisumu are dry, and have been dry for as long as our working president has been in office, sends a clear message to the Luo; you can go to hell, even as you pay taxes as well.

The people of Kisumu need water. And it is the responsibility of the government to give that water. But if the government fails as usual, it is our responsibility to identify a foreign investor, who can give us that water at a fee.

Ogwande moko to bo ywak aywaka.

Odhiambo T Oketch