University of Nairobi main campus:

WATER SHORTAGE IN ONE OF THE CAMPUSES OF KENYA’S PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSTY
By Maritim Kipngetich

PHOTO: Students queuing for water outside hall 10. Water shortage hit the University six days ago.

Students of the University of Nairobi’s Main Campus have threatened to go on strike because of shortage of water in their hostels for the past six days.

The students have been forced to put up with stinking toilets in their hostels and they fear that they may contact waterborne diseases.

The students have been compelled to skip their clean up duties. They no longer bath, yet they are required to attend classes within stipulated time.

 “The last time I bathed was Sunday morning. Since then I have not got water to even wash my face,” Justus Siele, a second year second semester economic student, said.

The students are supposed to prepare food in their hostels, but this has been affected. They buy readymade food from their tuck shops.

“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,” Justus said.

He further said the state of their toilets is worrying. He urged the University management to urgently fix the problem.

“We are tired of queuing, waiting a drop of dirty water from one of the taps we have in hall 10 (one of the hostels at the University). The situation is now intolerable and the University seems reluctant to address the issue,” John Mwangi, a fourth year pharmacy student, said.

The Student Welfare Authority Customer Relations 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.

Mr. Zadock further said the Maintenance Department at the University has procured a new pipe and they will fix it 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 Hyslop Building. Some have been closed down.