•The ratification now brings to an end the leadership crisis the agency has been facing.
•Before Odedeh was hired, Daniel Oronje was the acting CEO following after the expiry of former CEO Petronilla Ogut’s term.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
@alalmaurice
The board of directors of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency has ratified the appointment of George Odedeh as acting CEO.
Board chairman Erick Okeyo said Odedeh will serve for six months as acting agency chief executive officer.
He urged Odedeh to focus on proper service delivery, noting that water is a key pillar in realising the Big Four agenda. He spoke during a media cocktail on Friday in Kisumu.
The ratification now brings to an end the leadership crisis the agency has been facing. Before Odedeh was hired, Daniel Oronje was the acting CEO following after the expiry of former CEO Petronilla Ogut’s term.
Ogut was sent on terminal leave on July 1 to allow the recruitment of a substantive boss. Oronje was appointed by the board of directors under the reign of former chairman Paul Bii, a few months after being made acting technical manager.
Water CS Simon Chelugui nullified the appointment of and instead installed Odede to act as CEO. He denied Odede was irregularly hired.
Last month, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi asked the government to end the crisis at the agency in Kisumu.
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee chairman said the wrangles have disrupted operations.
He noted that routine operations at the agency have virtually ground to a halt due to a leadership crisis. Wandayi blamed the water ministry.
Chelugui said he acted within the law when he appointed the former technical manager of Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency.
Okeyo said the agency is committed to fulfilling the development and maintenance of infrastructure that enables the provision and accessibility of water and sanitation services.
He said the agency has allocated Sh190 million for harvesting and water exploitation, Sh148 million cross-county funds for boreholes and Sh64 million for water for schools.
It covers Bomet, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kericho, Kisii, Migori, Nyamira and Siaya counties. “Access to safe water and improved sanitation services are key human rights,” the chairman said.
The agency, Okeyo said, remains committed to the operationalisation of Water Act 2016 aimed at streamlining and enhancing efficiencies in water services delivery.
“We are focusing on the implementation of all projects that advance each of Kenya’s development agenda,” he said.
The agency, through the development of water and sanitation infrastructure, implementation of the water for schools’ programmes, technical assistance and capacity building to water service providers, directly addresses each of the development agenda.
He reaffirmed that projects undertaken by LVSWWDA will provide the infrastructure that enhances water and sanitation coverage within its jurisdiction by 20 percent and 10 percent for water and sanitation respectively.
This in total will contribute to the national figures of 63 percent and 50 percent for water services and sanitation respectively.