Nyeri Governor Appears Before Senate Committee Over Water Providers Audit Queries

Governor Mutahi Kahiga answering Senators on Monday

By Our Reporter

Finance and Economic Planning MCEC Robert Thuo in a photo taken when he was chairing a meeting with a team from National Treasury at County headquarters on Monday

Nyeri County governor Mutahi Kahiga appeared before a Senate Committee over audit issues posed by the Auditor General.

The governor and his team honoured summons by the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) to address concerns raised in the Auditor General’s Reports on the Financial Statements for the Financial Year 2018-2021. These reports highlighted challenges faced by the Tetu Aberdare and Mathira Water and Sanitation Companies which operate in Tetu and Mathira constituencies respectively.

Under the leadership of Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the committee deliberated in depth and reached a consensus, formulating a set of resolutions that the governor was ordered to make sure they are followed.

The measures aim to address and rectify the issues identified by the Auditor General in the audit report.

The committee instructed the County Executive Committee Members responsible for Finance (Robert Thuo) and Water Services (Frederick Kinyua) to play a proactive role in overseeing these water utility firms.

Water and Irrigation MCEC Fredrick Kinyua when his boss appeared before the Senate Committee

This includes and not limited to regularly monitoring and reporting on the financial status of these companies to ensure both transparency and accountability.

Senator Osotsi underscored the critical role of fiscal responsibility.

He advised Governor Kahiga on the imperative for both the management and the board of directors of Tetu Aberdare Water and Sanitation Company Limited to consistently evaluate the company’s financial performance. Such evaluations should consider implementing supplementary budgets as necessary.

A prominent concern was the notable levels of Non-Revenue Water for Tetu Aberdare and Mathira Water and Sanitation Companies, which surpassed acceptable benchmarks.

On this, the governor had explained to the committee that the increase in Non-revenue water was due to damaging of pipes by contractors rehabilitating various roads in the constituency.

Water and Irrigation Chief Officer Bernard Kiama Kariuki taking notes when the governor appeared before the Senate committee

In response,

the committee proposed that the Governor ensure the water companies devise and implement robust strategies to reduce Non-Revenue Water, that  must address both physical losses and commercial discrepancies.

Despite the audit queries for the two firms, the committee also commended Nyeri county for having the leading water company in Kenya, Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (NYEWASCO).

Other committee members present were; Eddy Oketch (Migori) William Kisang, (Elgeyo Marakwet) Ledama Olekina (Narok), Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated) and Miraj Abdillahi (Nominated).

The governor was accompanied by among others, Kinyua, Water Chief Officer Bernard Kiama Kariuki and Chief of Staff Paul Wambugu.

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