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{
    "id": 1347488,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1347488/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 360,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We came across non-revenue water, which according to the WASREP Regulations, should be about 25 percent. The water loss percentages that were indicated across most of them ranged as high as even 50 percent. Most of them blamed the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred in 2020 and 2021. The water losses ranged from the physical and commercial water loss perspectives. The other issue was the going concern. Most of these companies were dead. They did not have the capital to run and were running on losses. We never came across a company that was making a profit. It was worrying that in most of these companies people were still earning their salaries very comfortably yet, losses were a normal thing. Madam Temporary Speaker, we were able to go down into the issues of who owned these companies. In none other than the County of Murang’a, we came across one of the biggest businessmen in this country who was also a director in the water company. When we summoned them because we needed the updated CR12, they quit being the directors of these companies. You realize the massive level of corruption that has been there. I advise the Senate Majority Leader that we need to look at privatizing the water companies very keenly, knowing that the water function is devolved. We mention national water collection storage point and talk about Nairobi being the capital. When, for example, it rains today, you cannot say that we are collecting water that has rained in a region like Kitui for the Nairobi factor. No, because it is across and so, every county should be able to manage its water company within the county levels. Clause 9(a)(1) says- “A contracting authority may enter into a public-private partnership for the exercise and performance by another person as a licensee of some or all of its functions with respect to some or all of its functions with respect to a part or the whole of its area of water service provision.” On this statement of saying “another person” gives private people the opportunity to have these water bowsers around these towns. Nairobi City County has been highly affected. We have cartels who have sabotaged the normal water supply in Nairobi, so that they can reap massively from their businesss of supplying water. This Clause should be amended to read “performance by counties.” On tariffs, we realized that there have been so much delay and inactivity in ensuring that tariffs are there on time and have been approved on time. We realize that the issue of going concern is because these tariffs have not been amended. The greatest issue that has been there with these water companies is governance. We have incompetent people who have served in these water companies for the longest period. As I said earlier, no company reported profits. It was losses throughout, yet people are sitting in the office earning salaries at the end of every month. People have served in these companies for the years and years and there is no single improvement. Issues of governance and competence have been noted. My suggestion would be that the Water Works Development Agencies should be scrapped. We should then allow and strengthen, directly, the water companies that are also co-owned by the county government. Governors are also part of this directorship"
}