State firms owe water authority Sh2 billion

Failure by parastatals and regional water boards to clear outstanding bills have stalled efforts to provide piped water to consumers.

The Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) said more than Sh2.1 billion is owed by different institutions, making it difficult for it to roll out projects that require huge capital.

Power producer KenGen has a debt of about Sh500 million, Nairobi Water Board is yet to pay Sh458 million, while Coast Water Services Board owes the authority Sh78 million. KenGen only resolved to pay instalments of Sh29 million per month to offset the arrears after the authority won a suit against it.

WRMA Chief Executive Philip Olum said according to the law, consumers and boards are supposed to pay 50 cents to WRMA for every 1,000 litres.

The revenue generated, he added, is then ploughed back into water projects being implemented for the benefit of consumers.

REACHED AGREEMENT

Mr Olum said the National Irrigation Board owes WRMA Sh77 million although an agreement had been reached for the parastatal to pay Sh15 million for each quarter of a year.

“The major water users must pay revenue to WRMA or else we shall take them to court to recover the arrears, which have accumulated for years,” he warned.

“As a last resort, sometimes we are forced to disconnect water to boards, a fact that affects supply to consumers,” said the boss.

Addressing a press conference at Travellers Beach Hotel in Mombasa, last week, Mr Olum said non-payment for water use has caused the authority a budget deficit of Sh2 billion.

He said although the authority requires Sh3 billion annually for its activities, it received only Sh300 million from the National Treasury.

The authority was, however, able to raise Sh700 million from water use charges leaving it with the shortfall.

Mr Olum said the World Bank will fund water security projects to the tune of $36 million (Sh3.2 billion).

“The funds from the World Bank will help improve water resources, capacity building, monitoring of water activities and data,” said Mr Olum.

The WRMA board chairman, Mr Peter Kiilu, called on Kenyans to build water pans as well as harvest surface runoff to bridge shortage.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Owing to drought, some pastoral communities are forced to take their livestock to mountains for water and pasture, triggering environmental degradation, he said.

Mr Kiilu called for efficient use of water to cut wastage and ensure many Kenyans get access to piped water.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said his county had set aside Sh200 million this financial year for water projects.
He said the county was encouraging Laikipia residents to harvest rain water to sustain their needs. The governor asked hospitals and schools to take the same route.