Mombasa County has announced plans to modernise its ageing sewer system through a Public Private Partnership (PPP), as rapid population growth continues to strain infrastructure originally designed nearly a century ago.
In a statement on January 18, Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff said the move comes amid increasing pressure on sanitation services in the port city, which now serves more than 1.9 million residents.
According to Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff, Mombasa’s sewer system was constructed in the 1930s, when the population stood at about 30,000.
“Our sewer system on the Island was designed in the 1930s, when Mombasa’s population stood at about 30,000 people. Today, our city is home to more than 1.9 million residents. The pressure on this ageing infrastructure is real, and it shows,” he said.
Over the decades, population growth has far outpaced infrastructure expansion, resulting in frequent blockages, system overloads, and reduced efficiency in some areas.
The governor noted that the effects of the ageing system are visible, particularly in sections where the infrastructure can no longer handle current demand.
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He said the county government is prioritising both immediate enforcement measures and long-term investment solutions to address the challenge.
Crackdown on Illegal Sewer Connections in Mombasa
As part of short-term interventions, the county government has commenced a firm crackdown on illegal sewer connections.
Governor Sherrif said some residents and establishments have been connecting to sewer lines without notifying the county government, while others dispose of inappropriate materials that clog and damage the system.
He described the practice as unacceptable, noting that such actions worsen blockages and undermine the overall functionality of the sewer network.
“This is unacceptable. We have commenced a firm crackdown to identify and regularise illegal connections and to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he noted.
County enforcement teams have been deployed to identify illegal connections, regularise affected installations, and take legal action against those found responsible.
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According to the county government, enforcement is necessary to ensure compliance with regulations and to hold residents and businesses accountable.
Public-Private Partnership for Long-Term Solutions
Beyond enforcement, the county has acknowledged that sustainable improvement will require significant investment.
Governor Sherrif said Mombasa needs heavy and sustained funding to modernise and expand its sewer infrastructure to meet current and future needs.
“At the same time, enforcement alone is not enough. The reality is that Mombasa requires heavy, sustained investment to modernise and expand its sewer infrastructure to match our current and future needs,” he said.
To achieve this, the county deliberately pursued a Public-Private Partnership model to revamp the public sewer system.
The PPP is expected to bring in private sector capital, technical expertise, and operational efficiency to support large-scale infrastructure upgrades.
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