The Meru county government has launched the County Urban Water and Sanitation Services Corporation (MEWASCO) Strategic Plan 2021-2026 in a bid to address water issues in its major towns.
The launching ceremony which took place in one of the hotels in Meru town brought together various stakeholders including Tana Water Service Board (TWSB), Water Resources Authority (WRA), Water Service Trust Fund (WSTF) among others who have been working closely to ensure residents get the vital resource close to their doorsteps.
Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu who officiated the ceremony on behalf of Governor Kiraitu Murungi said the launch came at the right time, when the government was doing everything possible to ensure all the towns and other dry areas within the county got enough supply of water.
He said when they took office in 2017, MEWASCO, then known as Meru Water and Sanitation Services (MEWASS) was in a state of disarray and could not implement the Meru County Water and Sanitation Act 2014, years after it had been enacted by the County Assembly.
“Our Governor embarked on a vigorous process to reform and restructure the corporation and since then, very many gains have been achieved including MEWASCO being ranked the best among large category and an overall position four water utility in the country,” said Mr. Ntuchiu.
He said the county government will continue to work closely with all the stakeholders and improve the corporation to maintain the lead countrywide and continue offering the best and quality services to the people of Meru.
“As a government we have made massive strides in the water sector as we had promised in the vision of Making Meru Great including drilling and equipping 195 boreholes across the county in only 3 years. We are doing this to ensure our people no longer continue to face “water poverty,” he said.
The Deputy Governor said Kiraitu has an elaborate plan that will ensure the problem of water shortage for both domestic and agricultural use will be a thing of the past in Meru in the next six to seven years.
“Addressing water shortage in the county was a core objective in our manifesto and we are well on course to achieve it,” said Ntuchiu.
MEWASCO Chief Executive Joseph Mberia said the strategic plan will bring about synergy between MEWASS and Imetha Water company for proper service delivery.
“We have identified key deliverables which we will embark on to ensure we give sufficient clean water to all the towns and eventually every corner of the county,” said Mberia, adding that they had already identified gaps in all towns and these are the areas they will be working on.
By Dickson Mwiti and Makaa Margaret
