Reforms at Kirinyaga water company bearing fruits, says Waiguru

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru says ongoing reforms at the county’s water company are bearing fruits, with Non-Revenue Water (NRW) recording a significant drop.

Waiguru said that Kirinyaga County Water and Sanitation Company (KICOWASCO) recorded a reduction in NRW from 59 percent in June 2022 to 52 percent as at October 31st this year.

The NRW was attributed to unmetered water connections for community water projects, illegal connections, old and dilapidated infrastructure, leakages and bursts.

The Governor who was responding to the company’s Auditor General’s report for the year ended June 30th, 2023, told Senate Committee on County Public Investment and Special Funds that the reforms aims at ensuring the company is managed prudently, with a focus of ensuring provision of cost effective and affordable quality water and sanitation services to the residents of Kirinyaga.

“In the next one year, we commit to reduce the NRW to below 35 percent. The company has set a roadmap that has been aligned with its 2021-2026 strategic plan. The plan has identified critical areas and contributors of NRW, action plans, resources needed and target results,” Waiguru said.

She said the County Government had implemented recommendations from Senate among them taking full control of management of the water company.

While noting her administration’s commitment to implement management and governance reforms, she said the company was in the process of recruiting a new Managing Director to steer the organization into growth.

“On recommendation of the Senate, we have implemented far reaching reforms in the management and governance of the company to steer it back on track and we have started making progress,” she said.

She said the County Government has undertaken numerous water supply expansion projects in areas where there was no piped water and would help the company source for resources to ensure all water is metered.

The Governor told the Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi’s led committee that transfer of water companies’ assets from the national government to the county was still on course.

“Some of the pieces of land and water tanks that belongs to the Company could not be listed in the Company’s asset register because they are yet to be transferred to the firm by the national government. This an issue that will need to be fast-tracked through Council of Governors (COG) because it cuts across all the counties,” said Waiguru.

Osotsi commended the County Government for implementing some of the recommendations made by Senators during previous sittings, saying the reforms would ensure residents reap maximum benefits from the firm.

The Senator pointed out that NRW was an issue that needs to be addressed by ensuring that every drop of water is metered.

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