KSh8 Billion Lost To Cartels by Water Firms Annually

The Water Services Regulatory Board has said that the Water Service Providers (WSPs) are losing Sh8 billion annually to cartels through non-revenue water.

Joshua Irungu, the Water Services Regulatory Board Chairman (WASREB), said that his board was engaging county governments to dismantle water cartels that were responsible for hindrances in quality water provision.

Irungu said, “Sanitation and water provision is the mandate of the County governments but regulation was the role of the National government, that is why we’re working closely with devolved units to stem water theft,”

On Tuesday, the WASREB Chairman spoke in Nanyuki when he led board members on a tour of Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) on water provision progress in the region.

He said that 37 percent of NAWASCO’s water was being lost to non-revenue outlets and called on the local water company to seal loopholes that would reduce water theft to below 25 percent.

The WASREB Chairman said, “We are advising WSPs to consider installing smart meters and also upscale surveillance along water lines to reduce theft by cartels and those customers who fail to pay bills and end up making illegal connections,”

Irungu added that if the license of a WSP was unable to meet the standards required in provision of quality and reliable water to people under their jurisdiction, his board would not hesitate to cancel it.

The NAWASCO Chairman, Yusuf Mohamed said that the company was addressing water loss through non-revenue sources and was keen on being the best WSP in the country.

Mohamed said, “In the year 2018, we were ranked fifth-best water provider in the country and we hope this year we shall emerge the best,”