Water service provider decries soaring losses due to infrastructure destruction

Nyeri,

Tuesday, September 19,2023

KNA by Samuel Maina

Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (Nyewasco) is appealing to members of public to support its efforts in curbing rampant vandalism of its infrastructure to avoid frequent disruption of water supply to its clients.

The company’s Managing Director Engineer Peter Kahuthu says the practice of unscrupulous persons stealing the firms’ pipes, water valves and meters is on a steady rise and warned that the vice may further complicate supply of water to residents of Nyeri town and its environs.

Kahuthu has also disclosed that in the last three months alone, the company has lost revenue running into millions of shillings as a result of destruction of key piping and water connection systems.

“One of the key challenges we are having is vandalism or interfering with our infrastructure and as such making service delivery a challenge. Once we have our equipment vandalized it means it will interrupt water supply and interfere with quality of water to our customers. So as management of Nyewasco we are appealing to our customers and supporters to be on the lookout in case they suspect anyone trying to interfere with our water supply chain,” he told the press

The official has also disclosed that Police have managed to apprehend five persons suspected to be involved in the vice and hope to nab more in the course of time.

Ruring’u, Skuta and Kiawara have been cited as the most affected areas as far as destruction and looting of water systems is concerned and the company has incorporated the help of Police and local administrators to apprehend those behind the practice.

“Nyewasco is one of the best performing non-revenue water bodies but with these vandalism activities it means it will jeopardize that performance. Being a water service provider, this is an issue that has been there all along but in the recent past it has increased. When we talk of losses for example in the last three months we have lost over 100 custom meters of water with areas of Ruring’u, Skuta, King’ong’o and Witemere being among the worst affected, ”he added.

For the last 15 years Nyewasco has retained top position as far as service provision is concerned based on assessment by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB).The company has emerged as the best in several categories including top-performing utility overall, top utility in the very large company category, top utility in the Tana region, and top utility in non-revenue management

In July this year Nyeri Governor Kahiga lauded the company for emerging top in the Non-Revenue Water Challenge and position two in the Innovation Project in the Water Sector during the Kenya Water and Sanitation International Conference and Exhibitions.

Kahiga similarly hailed the firm, for continuously putting the county on pole position, for being the best water and sewerage provider not only locally but also globally. The company previously existed as Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company Limited prior to a name change to Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company Ltd effected in May 2019.

Courtesy; KNA