Hundreds of Miritini residents yesterday took to the streets protesting the alleged grabbing of a water catchment area by a private developer.

The residents claim the developer, who owns a piece of land adjacent to only source of water, has already fenced part of the catchment area.

Miritini Welfare Group patron Humphrey Kalama said the developer is putting their lives at risk. Most of the residents are poor and cannot afford piped water.

They depend on the streams, wells and boreholes in the area for water which they use for cooking and drinking.

"We want the government through our PC to help us. We have no any other source of water in our area and we cannot allow anyone to take this away from us," said Kalama.

The residents matched from Makadara grounds in the Mombasa CBD to Coast PC Samuel Kilele's office at the provincial headquarters.

"We have reported this incident to the DO and the DC but no action has been taken and we sometimes see them visiting the site at night without giving us any direction," noted Kalama.

Deputy PC Joseph Ruto received the complaints by the residents on behalf of Kilele who was not in the office at the time.

"This is a matter that must be approached with sober minds. I can assure you it will be dealt with with the seriousness it deserves," Ruto said.