- Kang’ata said President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and the ministry of Water have already been informed of the matter.
- Issuing interim recommendations, committee chair Godfrey Osotsi asked EACC to commence investigations into the ownership status.
Image: FILE
A senate watchdog committee has instructed Murang’a County to reconstitute the board of directors of four of the five water service providers in the devolved unit within 30 days.
Senate’s County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee issued the directive after it emerged that the four companies vowed never to surrender their full ownership to the county as required by law.
The fifth water service provider, Gatanga Water Services Company, has already surrendered full ownership as required by the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb).
On May 3, Wasreb wrote to the four companies asking them to comply with Section 77 (3) of the Water Act 2016 which requires them to be fully owned by the county government by June 30, 2023.
Appearing before the committee, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata told senators that Murang'a Water and Sanitation Company, Murang'a South Water and Sanitation Company, Kahuti Water and Sanitation Company and Gatamathi were unwilling to abide by the law.
“The companies do not want to convert. They have been defying the law consistently. My predecessor tried and failed. When we came into office, we convened a meeting and they told us it will not happen,” the governor claimed.
Kang’ata said President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and the Ministry of Water have already been informed of the matter.
“They truth is that they are not intending to comply. They said they will not comply with the national law,” he said.
Issuing interim recommendations, committee chair Godfrey Osotsi asked EACC to commence investigations into the ownership status and operations of all water companies in Murang’a and provide a report within 30 days.
“We will also invite the directors of all the four companies to appear before us to tell us why they do not want to comply with the law,” he added.
Migori senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch asked Kang’ata to fire the CEOs of the four companies, saying he had the powers to do so.
Murang’a senator, however, objected saying the four CEOs should be given a second chance.
“Do not force them to step aside without giving them an opportunity to redeem themselves. If they are ready to abide by the law, let them continue to serve,” Nyutu added.
Kang’ata said abiding by the law was the only way Murang’a will get out of its water problems.
Wasreb issued an advisory to all Governors on the regulatory framework for water provision in Kenya. It was the advice of Wasreb that county governments should be the owners and shareholders of water service providers.