From river to relief: Clean water changes lives in Mombasa
World Bank Blogs - The Water Blog
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By: Paul Barasa Lewnida Sara, June 15, 2026
In Bwaga Moyo village in Mwakirunge Ward, the sound of flowing water now carries a meaning residents have waited decades to hear: relief. For years, families in this part of Mombasa County depended on distant rivers and unreliable sources for their daily water needs. The journey was long and often unsafe. Women and children would spend hours walking under the coastal sun, returning home with heavy containers of water that was not always clean. Cases of waterborne diseases were common, especially among young children. “We had no choice,” recalls Joseph Katama, a resident of the area. “The river water was not safe. It was even a bit salty. But we kept going back because there was nowhere else.” That reality has changed. A new water kiosk, supported by the World Bank–funded Water and Sanitation Development Project and implemented in partnership with Mombasa Water Supply & Sanitation Company Ltd, is now serving close to 1,000 households in Bwaga Moyo. Clean and safe water is available within the community—dramatically reducing the burden on families and improving public health. At the commissioning ceremony, residents described the project as life-changing. Omazi Hare, who leads a local women’s group, says the biggest transformation has been in how women and children spend their time. “We used to walk long distances to the river with our children. Now that time can be used for other things,” she says. For many women, those “other things” mean income-generating activities, childcare, or participation in community initiatives. Access to water close to home is opening up economic and social opportunities that were previously out of reach. The kiosk is already drawing people from neighboring villages, some arriving with handcarts strapped to motorcycles to collect water. What was once a point of daily struggle has become a small but vital hub of activity. Habiba Ali, Acting Managing Director of MOWASSCO, describes the project as a breakthrough—particularly because of the strong involvement of a local women’s community organization in its rollout. “Before we set up the kiosk, women struggled to find clean and safe water. Quality was never guaranteed,” she says. The project is the result of collaboration between the World Bank, the County Government of Mombasa, and MOWASSCO. While the Bwaga Moyo kiosk is currently the only water facility in the immediate area, plans are underway to expand services to other parts of Mwakirunge Ward. Sustainability has been built into the model. Community members managing the kiosk have received training and continue to work closely with MOWASSCO’s social team to ensure consistent monitoring and smooth operations. The goal is not only to provide infrastructure, but to ensure that it works reliably for years to come. This initiative is not just about giving water. It’s about building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities. The Bwaga Moyo kiosk is one of 30 water points established across Mombasa County under the Water and Sanitation Development Project. Together, they represent a broader effort to strengthen water security, improve health outcomes, and empower communities—especially women—across the county. In Bwaga Moyo, however, the impact is felt in simple, everyday ways: fewer trips to the river, fewer cases of diarrhea, more time for school and work. And at the heart of it all, the steady flow of clean water—finally close to home. |
