The Water Services Providers Association (WASPA) has moved to sign pacts with regional organizations in an effort to benchmark on best structures towards improving service provision.
The association, which has more than 80 member water companies from the country, has already signed a pact with the Ethiopian Urban Water and Sanitation Utilities Federation aimed at enhancing knowledge sharing between the two nations and address water related conflicts along the border.
An official of WASPA Eng. Peter Gichaga noted the collaboration would go a long way in helping their member companies to have well-structured exchange programmes between the two bodies so as to benchmark best ways on provision of water services.
“We want our members to deliver best services and we want to benchmark with the best in the market as we are geared to deliver standard services in water and sanitation,” said Gichaga during the association’s general meeting held in Murang’a.
Gichaga, who is also Managing Director of Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company, said the pact would help in provision of water among communities living at the border of Kenya and Ethiopia thus reducing conflicts over natural resources.
He downplayed confrontations which have been witnessed in some counties between water companies and devolved governments saying the teething challenges would be solved amicably.
Gichaga said despite water being devolved, there were rules and guidelines which needed to be followed so as to ensure effective manner of providing water to people.
Newly elected Chairman of WASPA Eng. Daniel Ng’ang’a on his part observed that they would reach out to water providers from other neighbouring countries to partner and learn better structures in enhancing water provision.
Ng’ang’a said currently, water connection in the country stood at 60 percent hence more resources were needed to extend water connection especially to areas which received less rainfall.
The chairman who is also managing director of Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO) said WASPA would continue to advocate for good governance service provision in the country.
He noted that WASPA was in charge of water connections and support from stakeholders would help in acceleration of achievement in providing residents with clean water.
“Good corporate governance and adherence to the water sector guidelines will be essential in achieving sustainable development and universal access to water and sanitation in Kenya,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ng’ang’a said they would engage other stakeholders to help in embracing new technology to curb water wastage.
“About 42 percent of the water provided is none revenue since it’s wasted through piping and faulty meters and we are seeking help from our stakeholders including national and county governments to get best equipment and install digital water meters,” he further said.
The chairman urged all water companies in the country to commit all their resources and knowledge towards achieving the nation’s vision 2030 and the Big 4 Agenda.
By Bernard Munyao
