In Summary
- Car Wash Business banned in Nairobi
- Youths Protest banned of car wash business in the city
- Water shortage prompted the ban
Nairobi City Water and Sewage Company has banned the use of its water in all car wash stations in the city.
The company’s Managing Director Nahashon Muguna says that anyone found violating the same will be prosecuted.
According to Muguna the move is aimed at reducing water spillage and wastage as the drought continues to bite hard.
“What we have is for human consumption only in fact the water available is for our stomach only …so for Nairobi Water we are not giving any water to wash vehicles so it will be criminal to operate a car wash using our water,” Muguna said.
Nairobi Water has also launched an operation to weed out all illegal connections in estates.
On Monday the team through water police unit demolished illegal connections including all car wash and water points in Huruma and Kimaiko in Mathare Sub-County.
“The operation to have all illegal water connections and car wash that use our water is on and as explained we have special police officers attached at the Ministry of Housing who are helping us in enforcing this.. We were in Huruma and Kiamaiko the other day and we did a lot and we shall continue demolishing and taking people to court,” Muguna said.
Reaction From Carwash Attendants
Meanwhile youths have opposed the new directives saying many will lose their livelihoods.
“Tunadepend Kwa hizi car wash wewe ukikam halafu unatushow tuondoke unadai aje ,wewe ndio utalisha familia yangu,tuachane na mamboka ya vijana mtaani ,car wash si ugondi na gava ijue hiyo tunatafutia familia zetu wao nao wanataka kuzibomoa sio poa hata kidogo hiyo mambo ishughulikiwe, “Kevin Mulama a car wash worker said.
“Tuko juu ya mawe ukijaribu kufunga car wash hiyo utaharibu maisha ya vijana mtaani lazima tujielewe juu si Kila wash Ina illegal connections wengine wetu hapa tunalipia maji na ni Nairobi water ndio wanaouza hii maji….wawache kufinyilia vijana.’’ He added.
By Allan Otieno
