Garissa county secretary Mohamud Mursal presents a trophy to Abdixafid Abdi, a Gawasco staff.
Garissa county secretary Mohamud Mursal has challenged the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company to craft a long-term strategic plan that anticipates it's growing customer base and ensures reliable supply well into the future.
Speaking on Wednesday during a prize-giving and recognition
ceremony for top-performing Gawasco staff, Mursal
hailed the company’s dramatic turnaround since 2022 when it was debt-ridden and
struggling to serve Garissa residents.
“When this administration came into office, Gawasco was
practically dead. Today, it is a self-sustaining company collecting more than Sh25
million per month, compared to just Sh5 million in 2022. That is the power of
good management and accountability,” he said.
Mursal emphasised that while the growth is commendable, the county government now expects to see an even bigger return on its investments
by ensuring every household in Garissa town and its environs has water.
In a first for county institutions, Gawasco has rolled out
performance contracting to strengthen accountability, with rewards for staff
who meet and exceed their targets.
Managing director Mohamed Dolal praised the dedication of staff and outlined
how the company is pushing to expand coverage.
“By rewarding performance, we are building a culture of
accountability, continuous improvement and excellence. Our customers deserve
nothing less than reliable, efficient and world-class service,” Dolal
said.
“We are now operating at our highest capacity in years. Only
12 newly built bullas [settlements] remain without water, and phase one to connect
them—including Burburis—is budgeted for this financial year. With our people
working day and night, no resident will be left behind,” he added.
Chief officer for public service, performance and delivery management Mahat Abubakar lauded the initiative as a bold step.
“In today’s competitive environment, performance appraisals
and contracting are no longer optional but mandatory. Gawasco is leading by
example, proving that rewarding performance is key to growth and service
delivery,” he said.
The event also saw several staff members awarded for
outstanding performance in May, June and July, a move designed to motivate and
foster a culture of excellence.
Majority leader and Dadaab MCA Mohamed Aboo praised Gawasco’s recovery, noting that its success is
proof that public utilities can thrive when managed with professionalism and
accountability.
During his state of the county address last week, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama heaped praise on Gawasco, saying despite the numerous
challenges his administration has encountered, it has remained steadfast in
ensuring all subcounties get constant supply of water.
He singled out Garissa town, which has experienced
exponential growth noting this had taken abnormal pressure on the meagre
financial resources as well as the operational capabilities of the company.
“Despite these challenges, my administration has ensured continued investment and financial support for Gawasco to keep expanding coverage such that today more Bullas and more families in Garissa enjoy piped, clean water more than any time before,” Jama said.
