Stakeholders of a Murang’a Water Company have asked county leaders to stop creating confusion and disturbance in the water sector.
Shareholders of Kahuti Water Company located in Kangema said county administration should support all local water companies to deliver better services to residents instead of fighting management of the water firms.
This came after the company went on to hold its Annual General Meeting contrary to the intention of the county government which termed the meeting as illegal.
In the meeting held at Kangema town on Thursday, members of the company’s board said they were operating legally and thus their meeting was legal.
The stakeholders, led by Francis Njuguna from Kanyenyaini tea factory warned politicians to stop sabotaging water companies.
“Performance of water companies in Murang’a has been better and what the county government should do is to support the firm so as to connect more families with clean water,” added Njuguna.
Last week, in a paid up advertisement, County Water and irrigation Executive Member Paul Macharia declared the proposed AGM illegal as Water Service Regulatory Board (Waresb) indicated the meeting was prepared in accordance with water law.
There was tight security at the venue to ensure there was a successful completion of the meeting, following fears that it could be disrupted, after the county government declared the forum illegal.
Despite the conflict with the county government, the water company got a clean bill from the office of the Auditor General on utilization of public funds.
The auditor in his report read to stakeholders indicated that nothing had been brought to his attention to believe that public funds had been misappropriated.
Chairing the meeting, the Company’s Managing Director Engineer Ephantus Kamau said the national government has pumped in millions of shillings to facilitate supply of water to all parts of Kahuro and Kangema constituencies.
“Ministry of water and sanitation has established multi million shillings projects to ensure the residents have access to water. The water projects will be implemented through the local water firms,” said Kamau.
Chairman of Water Service Providers Association (WASPA) Engineer Daniel Ng’ang’a who was present said the water boards in Murang’a were working within the law.
Ng’ang’a who is also Managing Director of Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) said they were in the office legally and should continue supplying clean water to their customers within the county.
“The sector is guided by Water Act of 2016 among several others to ensure Kenyans continue having access to clean water, “said Ng’ang’a.
By Bernard Munyao
