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Why should places like Nairobi be short of water?

Water scarcity is an increasing problem faced by many African countries,especially cities. Alan Kasujja looks at why they're short of water in Nairobi.

In Africa an estimated 160 million people live with water scarcity. Either because there isn鈥檛 enough water or it isn鈥檛 safe to consume. And the problem is worst in big urban areas. For places like Nairobi the problem is getting bigger with more people settling in the city. It's particularly bad in some areas, places like Dandora Phase 4 in the suburbs. Caroline Achieng used to sell tea there but the water shortages have forced her out of her trade. 鈥淚f you wanted water, you would have to wake up at one am and fetch it.鈥 She said 鈥渞ight now there is no water in the taps鈥. City authorities have blamed what have been described as water cartels for the problem. Those, who either hoard or sell water for profit. But is it really as simple as that? Professor George Okoye at Nairobi University says the city is 鈥渘ineteen years late鈥 with its infrastructure investment. In today鈥檚 Africa Daily Alan Kasujja looks at why cities like Nairobi are short of water

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