Water firm handover hits a rough patch

The Kakamega County government was on Wednesday denied the management of a water firm in a handover dispute.

The Lake Victoria North Water Services Board’s management disowned an agreement handing over the Kakamega-Busia water company to the devolved unit.

The board said the county government had not signed documents indicating the transfer of management.

The county government had on Sunday moved and taken over the company’s management from the board.

On Monday, a tussle erupted after officials from the county government took over the management of the water firm.

The new management team visited the company’s offices and addressed workers to inform them of the changes.

But speaking to the Nation, Mr Alfred Amombo, the board’s chief executive, said the handing over would only be complete once Governor Wycliffe Oparanya signed the deeds of transfer.

“As a board, we have been facilitating the process of devolving water services, which is 99 per cent complete except for the signing of the deeds of transfer so that we can proceed to officially hand over the company,” said Mr Amombo.

The transfer of services has been set for July 1 after the signing of the deeds of transfer.

An official said the county government was still consulting about the huge loans from donors which were ploughed into the Tindinyo water project in Nandi County and the Mumias water project.

Water supply from Tindinyo to Kakamega is by gravity and the project cost stands at Sh3.64 billion with accrued interest to be paid over a 30-year period.

The Mumias Water supply, funded by donors at a cost of Sh2.5 billion, is also expected to be handed over to the county government.

Kakamega County commissioner Kang’ethe Thuku said consultations were going on with officials from the Water ministry to address the dispute.

“We have intervened to ensure that water services are not disrupted because of the tussle between the board and the county government,” said Mr Thuku.