LACK OF SPECIAL COMMODITY|

SHORTAGE OF WATER WITHIN THE KENYA’S BEST VARSITY

PHOTO: Students queuing for water outside hall 10. Water crisis has hit the University of Nairobi main campus.

By Maritim Kipngetich

Water is an essential commodity which human beings cannot survive without, but this is not the case with University of Nairobi main campus students who have survived without the commodity for the last one week.

The students have been forced to put up with stinking toilets in their hostels. The condition of their washrooms is also deplorable.

They normally wash their clothes during weekends and some other days of the week, but they cannot do so now since the water is not available. They no longer take shower and they are required to attend classes as early as 8a.m.

Justus Siele is a second year economic student in the university and he said he had not bath for three days then.

“The last time I shower was Sunday morning. Since then I have not got water to even wash my face,” Justus said.

They usually prepare food in their hostels, but this has been curtailed. They have opted to go for the ready made food found in their tuck shops which include mandazi, soda, bananas, juice and milk. This has enabled them to survive.

“The last time I cooked food in my room was last Friday. I would cook on Sunday, but water came for about 30 minutes and disappeared till now,” he said.

He further said, what was worrying most was the state of their toilets and he urged the people concern to fix the problem.

The Student Welfare Authority Customer Relation Officer, Mr. Zadock Opole, said there was a pipe breakdown near Serena Hotel and the effort to rectify it failed.

“There is a pipe failure near Serena Hotel and the problem has been corrected twice. Initially, a new pipe was fixed but it was stolen later during the night,” he said.

The Customer Relation Officer said, the students have portended to go on strike should the management fail to correct the situation.

Mr. Zadock, however, said the University management is concern and the problem will be brought to a halt as soon as possible.

The water shortage has also been experienced in the University’s washrooms found in the library and the washrooms found within Hyslope Building. Some have been closed down.

The students, fear that they may suffer from diseases like typhoid and malnutrition should the situation continues.