Water Troubles in Kiambu County:Senate Committee Presses For Action
Under the stewardship of Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) convened today with Kimani Wamatangi, Governor of Kiambu County. This summons was prompted by the Governor’s failure to heed an earlier invite from the committee.
Governor Wamatangi expounded on his absence, revealing that an unanticipated visit by His Excellency the President to Kiambu County. Acknowledging this explanation, the committee promptly transitioned to the primary agenda: addressing the Auditor-General’s Reports concerning the financial statements of water companies during the fiscal years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21.
The committee’s evaluation of the audit reports culminated in several definitive directives. These directions, encompassing various timelines, called for action and cooperation. Notably, Governor Wamatangi was asked to diligently oversee the management and operations of the county’s water companies in compliance with Article 179 of the Constitution.
Certain water companies—Limuru Water and Sewerage Company Limited, Kikuyu Water and Sewerage Company Limited, Githunguri Water and Sanitation Company Limited, and Karuri Water and Sanitation Company—were flagged for persistently incurring losses and displaying adverse working capital trends. To counteract this trajectory, the County Government of Kiambu was charged with implementing strategic measures within 60 days to resuscitate their fiscal health.
Within the next four months, the County Government was further directed to align the County Water Act with the National Water Act, 2016, and other pertinent statutes. Governor Wamatangi was entrusted with assembling substantive Boards of Directors for all water companies within 60 days, adhering to the Water Act, 2016, and associated regulations.
To optimize efficiency, the committee advised the clustering of the eight water companies within Kiambu County following a process of robust public participation and adherence to best practices. Additionally, steps to curtail the high levels of Non-Revenue Water in these companies were directed, including a directive to present comprehensive measures for verification by the Auditor-General’s office.
Exposing irregularities, the committee noted that certain water companies had borrowed customer deposits without a clear framework for utilization or refund. In response, the County Government was given a seven-day timeline to institute policies guiding the access, utilization, and repayment of such deposits.
Senator Osotsi was joined in the meeting by other committee members including Vice Chair Prof. Tom Ojienda and Senators Karungo Thangwa, William Kisang, Hamida, Tabitha Mutinda, and Miraj Abdillahi.
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