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{
    "id": 1490813,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1490813/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 128,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "we have given a lengthy chapter on the observations for each water company and the recommendations that we have made for each company. The General Observation and Recommendations contained in this report are as follows - We have made recommendations and observations on the issue of high non- revenue water, poor bookkeeping preparation and accuracy of financial statement, non- compliance to reporting standards and accuracy of the financial statement, non- compliance to the law on ethnic inclusivity, material uncertainty to going concern - this was a common query - non-remittance of statutory deductions where these companies deduct money from staff and they do not remit; this is a common problem; non-transfer of assets and liability, breach of various provisions of the law, budget control and performance, unclear ownership of assets and lack of an updated fixed asset register; quite a number of these companies do not have a fixed asset register and that is a very serious governance issue; and cross county water companies, for example, Nyamira and Kisii Counties share one water company and there are a lot of disputes around it, which this Committee directed them to consider de-clustering so that we have a water company for Nyamira and another water company for Kisii. That process is ongoing and I can report that we are making progress. The same also applies to Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, which share one water company. There are huge management challenges resulting from that arrangement. Again, through the committee we have recommended that we have a de-clustering of the company, so that we have a separate water company for Trans Nzoia and Bungoma. The two county governments are making progress on that process and very soon, we will have that de-clustering happening. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the report also contains specific recommendations for respective audit queries for each county water service provider. That detail is contained in the report. It is also important to note that the recommendations contained in this report were arrived at by consensus by members of the Committee. Before, I conclude, it is important that the Committee appreciate the determination made by governors so far and various water service providers to appear physically before the Committee to present their responses and submissions. These appearances, allowed the Committee to execute its oversight role over those county entities and help the management of water companies to understand what is expected of them in executing their mandates and especially on accountability. These efforts have seen a good number of the audit queries having been resolved, as you can see in the specific queries as contained in the reports that we have tabled here. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we should have another opportunity to debate other water companies, because as I said earlier, we have five volumes of reports, which were tabled before this House, containing observations, recommendations, audit queries and their positions for 80 water companies for three financial years. Even before we get there, I encourage Members of this House to take keen interest in the management of water service providers in their respective counties. They say water is life and the management and provision of water is a key component in our oversight role. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}