Nairobi — Water Minister Charity Ngilu has announced that she will reconstitute the Mombasa Water Board which she disbanded in 2008 this week.

Ms Ngilu said area residents' have been suffering for a very long time since there was no water board to run the Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company (Mowasco).

Speaking in Mombasa during the ODM rally at Tononoka on Sunday, the Minister was optimistic the new board will improve water services in the town.

"I shall work together with other stakeholders to make sure the board is formed immediately and inaugurated," said the Minister.

In 2008, the Minister disbanded the previous water board in a chaotic meeting after civil societies and a section of councillors claimed the board was interfered with by politicians.

The councillors and civil societies protested after they alleged the directors were appointed on political grounds forcing the Minister to disband the board.

On Sunday, Mombasa Mayor Ahmed Mordhar said there is an acute shortage of water in the town because of lack of the board to direct running of water services.

Mayor Mordhar said once the board is constituted, it will speed the construction of the Mzima Springs II which is estimated to cost Sh40 billion.

"Coast residents have been having a problem since they depend only on Mzima Springs I pipeline which is old and dilapidated," said the Mayor adding that the pipe usually experiences persistent bursts due to its condition.

Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu also supported Mombasa Mayor and said the government has denied Coast people a lot of projects which has derailed progress in the region.

Mr Mwadeghu said a lot of water is being wasted since they are not tapped to be supplied in different regions of the province to end an acute shortage of the commodity which is being experienced.

"It is a pity that projects in Coast province do not get funds as planned and we as leaders we want to know why the funds are being diverted," said Mr Mwadeghu.