Nyeri County governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga with Nyewasco Managing Director Eng. Peter Kahuthu
By KNA
Worth Noting:
- “Since February this year, the rate at which unscrupulous persons are vandalizing our water systems is alarming .We have witnessed this practice especially in the suburbs of Nyeri town in Witemere, Kangemi and Kamakwa. We suspect the motive behind these criminal activities its to obtain metal parts and later sell them to scrap metal dealers .We have tried to address this matter through the National Government Administration Officers to see whether we can temporarily suspend scrap metal business in this area to curb this vice, but so far we have not managed to get a way through”, he told KNA.
- Veronica Wangari, a resident of Beaver estate in Skuta says they were forced to go without water for hours after criminals vandalized at least 30 water meters in the area on Wednesday last week.
Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (NYEWASCO) is appealing to members of the public to support its efforts in curbing rampant vandalism of its physical infrastructure.
The company’s Head of Security Michael Kimondo says the practice of unscrupulous persons stealing the firms’ gate valves and water meters had increased, warning that the vice may further complicate supplying of water to residents of Nyeri town and its environs.
Kimondo says the crime has become so rampant that they have been forced to reach members of the public and landlords to institute additional security measures to help address the challenge.
The wave of vandalism is rife in Skuta, Witemere and Kangemi estates, where criminals are having a field day making away with dozens of gate valves and water meters.
The water utility firm now believes the practice may be orchestrated by criminals hunting for pieces of metal to sell to scrap dealers.
“Since February this year, the rate at which unscrupulous persons are vandalizing our water systems is alarming .We have witnessed this practice especially in the suburbs of Nyeri town in Witemere, Kangemi and Kamakwa. We suspect the motive behind these criminal activities it’s to obtain metal parts and later sell them to scrap metal dealers .We have tried to address this matter through the National Government Administration Officers to see whether we can temporarily suspend scrap metal business in this area to curb this vice, but so far we have not managed to get a way through”, he told KNA.
Veronica Wangari, a resident of Beaver estate in Skuta says they were forced to go without water for hours after criminals vandalized at least 30 water meters in the area on Wednesday last week.
The criminals also made away with at least 18 gate valves from a neighbouring estate on the same night, cutting off the tenants of the area from water supply for the better part of Thursday and Friday.
“Theft of gate valves and water meters has become a frequent occurrence here with criminals making away with the gadgets without fear of being arrested. On Wednesday night last week, we woke in the morning only to find we had no water in our houses after our water meters and gate valves got vandalized during the night.
Luckily the engineers from the Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company responded promptly to the problem and had the gate valves fixed on time. We are hoping they will also fix new meters if they fail to trace the lost ones,” she says.
Kimondo says the company is yet to arrest those behind the theft, but said they are working with local chiefs, local community leaders and the Water Police Department to track those behind the vice.
He says they have however managed to arrest two suspects in connection to the activities, while one is currently serving a jail sentence after being convicted of taking part in destroying water infrastructure.
Last year, the company also sacked one of their employees after he was suspected of having a hand in sabotaging the company’s water connection.
“We are appealing to members of the public to help us in tackling this crisis, since it affects them directly.When criminals tamper with water connection it is the common person who bears the brunt of such an act.
We are also advising our clients to safeguard their water meters and gate valves in secured metal boxes to secure them from possible theft,” he stated.
In September last year the company’s Managing Director Engineer Peter Kahuthu had said the practice of unscrupulous persons stealing the firms’ pipes, water valves and meters was on a steady rise and warned the vice may further complicate supply of water to residents of Nyeri town and its environs.
By that time, Kahuthu disclosed that 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 the 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.
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 the police and local administrators to apprehend those behind the practice.
Kahuthu has also disclosed that within a period of three months alone,the company has lost revenue running into millions of shillings following 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 the 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.
Ruring’u, Skuta and Kiawara were cited as the most affected areas as far as destruction and looting of water systems was concerned.
“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 last year, Nyeri Governor Kahiga lauded the company for emerging top in Non-Revenue Water Challenge and position two in 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.
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