By: Eric Wanjala
The Senate committee on county public investment and special funds led by vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi has questioned the Board of management at Lake Victoria South Water Works development Agencies on issues of audit queries and handing over of projects to more than 8 counties that the water agency is currently supplying water
While addressing the Committee Chrispine Juma CEO of the lake region water agency highlighted on the issue of whether the Central Rift water works development agencies are obligated to perform task at the lake region,a matter that has brought confusion on their mandate within the region.
The Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, is one of the nine Water Works Development Agencies, established in the new Water Act 2016. The Agency is currently under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation,covering 8 counties of Bomet, Homa Bay, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira and Siaya.
“Am concerned with the matter where like in our case the Central Rift Water Works development Agencies is implementing projects in our area of jurisdiction of which we don’t have any mandate and oversight on”Stated CEO Chrispine .O. Juma
On the other hand Kisumu senator Prof Tom Ojienda questioned on issues of county owning the water projects done by the agencies and the transfer of assets to the county water companies when handing over is being partaken.
According to the Chair Cavince Odoyo from Lake Victoria South Water Works development Agencies, the Agency since 2019 was covering an area of jurisdiction with about 8.8million people and has enough water to supply UpTo 2030.
However the committee chair senator Osotsi has commended the agency on its mode of organization and advice on matters handing over that’s it’s prudent for counties to take charge on the water projects done by the ministry so that moneies acquired through the water tarrif can have value on paying debts .
“When doing handing over kindly ensure that it’s done properly so that counties can own the projects so that we can get value for money that mostly is usually acquired on loan ” Said Senator Osotsi.
