Power Outage
Power outages have combined with water shortages to make life difficult for Masalani and Ijara town residents for the last two months.
Frustrated Ijara residents led by their MP Abdi Ali Sheikhow last week took the matter to the National Assembly and sought a ministerial statement through the House Departmental Committee on Energy on why electricity supply is a nightmare for Ijara constituency residents.
However, the power blackouts persist even as the Kenya Power & Lighting Co. Officer incharge Mr Silas Limo said they have tried working on it and resolved 60 percent while the remaining 40 percent is restored by engineers along Boji -Masalani Road about 4km which had been flooded by the release of flood waters from Kindaruma Masinga dam.
Eng Limo told KNA that two conductors on the flooded poles are slanting hence forcing them to use a crane to repair it. As the power outage continues other livelihoods for small scale traders such as mama mbogas, butchery owners, fruit drinks and coffee shops are almost closing due to persistent power outages.
To add insult to injury, water availability has likewise become a nightmare with a likelihood of waterborne diseases breaking out as residents are walking for upto three kilometers in search after turbines shut down at Masalani water supply because non availability of electricity.
Ijara sub county water officer Mr Noor Mohamed said they have been camping at Garissa County administration offices of CEC for Water Services in Garissa town seeking the purchase of two generators to pump water from the river to supply the water to the estates.
The residents appealed to the National Government and other donor agencies to come to their aid.