The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Murang’a water Company (Muwasco) lost water infrastructure worth Sh4 million in the past six months, with the majority found in the scrap metal dealers.
In a major operation in Murang’a town, Muwasco staff and the police netted three suspects who were cornered with water equipment.
The crack down follows many of the residences and businesses going without water following theft and destruction of the infrastructure.
Muwasco Managing Director Eng Daniel Ng’ang’a lauded the residents within Murang’a municipality for assisting the police to expose the culprits.
Ng’ang’a said the residents volunteered vital information through a community whatsapp group that led to the successful operation and recovery.
“In the last six months we have lost a lot of water equipment but through the cooperation with the local residents we were able to arrest some of the culprits,” said Ng’ang’a.
He appealed to other water companies in the county to emulate working with the community.
Murang’a police commander Benjamin Kimwere said the theft of water equipment is a theft and must be resolved.
“It is shocking that in the Kigumo area there are reports of vandalism of water equipment, involving some members of the public,” said Kimwere.
Elsewhere, the dispute between Kinyona ward community and Murang’a South water (Muswasco) has escalated to the Water Service Regulatory Board (Wasreb) expected to give a solution of the disputed water tariffs on February 24.
Kigumo Security Committee ordered Muswasco to replace the vandalised and destroyed water infrastructure worth a million shillings to facilitate flow of water in three days.
“Those responsible for the destruction of water infrastructure will face prosecution,” read a communication to the public from Muswasco.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata on Thursday held a dispute resolution meeting withInter Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee, and Wasreb discussed high water tariffs .
In the deliberations, Wasreb made their case justifying new tariffs stating that Muranga water companies have loans that they must repay.
“The tariffs are too high and unaffordable,” said Kang’ata..
