The Water Police Unit has pitched camp at Maragua in Murang’a county to restore order after a group of locals took over the water supply and chased away local water companies.
In June, the goons who formed a group called Nginda Community destroyed treatment plants near an intake located along river Irati and connected untreated water directly to consumers.
The group then went ahead and disconnected water metres in over 100 homes in the Nginda and Nyakagumo areas to ensure locals' access free untreated water for irrigation.
Workers from Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) and Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company (Muswasco) were warned to keep off Nginda and Gakoigo areas as the group made it clear that it would be managing water supply.
A Muswasco worker who dared defy the group’s orders was assaulted in his home and sustained minor injuries in the face and head but he screamed and attracted neighbours, forcing the group to flee.
The company reported the matter at Maragua Police Station.
According to Muwasco’s managing director Daniel Ng’ang’a, the disruption saw water infrastructure including water pipes vandalized.
“Our firm has sustained losses amounting to about Sh5.7 million in vandalism and loss of revenue,” Ng’anga said.
The MD said the untreated water was channelled to some local health facilities and other public amenities, putting water users at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
“The group had taken the law into their hands and chased our workers away, disconnected our metres and connected untreated water to clients. We are happy that the water police unit has come in to help us restore order," the MD said.
Ng’ang’a said the company was forced to ration water supply as the disruption reduced its coverage by about 30 per cent, causing an uproar from consumers.
Veronica Maina, the officer in charge of Muswasco’s office in Maragua, said they were forced to keep off the area by the group members who would storm the firm’s officers armed with machetes.
“They told us to stay away and said they want the water used for irrigation purposes but the project is licensed for domestic purposes."
Maina said since then, about 400 homes served by her company have been having water shortages as the firm lost control of supply, occasioning losses that amounted to Sh2.1 million.
Samuel Olarasha, the officer in charge of the Water Police Unit said investigations are ongoing to establish the culprits and ensure they are prosecuted.
Olarasha said vandalism of public water infrastructure cannot be allowed as it inhibits other citizens’ right to access the commodity.
“Huge amounts of public resources have been invested in the project and the community should know it’s illegal to vandalize it,” he said.
He revealed that patrols will be conducted in the area to ensure the restored water supply is not disrupted again.
