A declaration made by President William Ruto during his visit to Murang’a county last week has ended a long-standing fight between two water companies over boundaries.
The two companies, Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company and Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company have engaged in a protracted battle for years over Maragua constituency that hosts the Sh800 million Maragua dam.
Muswasco that covers Kandara, Kigumo and Maragua constituencies claimed it helped lobby for the project to increase its water supply and was named the project’s supervisor by the Ministry of Water.
But Muwasco that is based in Murang’a town and covers Township, Mbiri and Gaturi wards in Kiharu constituency, claimed it had the capacity to manage the dam after achieving about 98 per cent of water coverage in its area.
On Thursday, the President who commissioned Maragua bulk water project that includes the dam however announced that Muwasco would manage the dam, bringing to an end the conflict.
On Monday, the two companies met at the dam’s treatment plant in Gakoigo to start the process of handing over as Muswasco had already settled into the project.
Muswasco’s managing director Mary Nyaga said the firm had already connected about 2,000 homesteads with water from the dam.
“We have been operating this facility since March last year but we are ready to hand it over to Muwasco in obedience to the President’s decree,” she said.
Muwasco’s managing director Daniel Ng’ang’a thanked the President for according his firm more work saying he’s ready to serve Maragua constituency.
“We have already taken over and I want to assure residents that their journey to efficient water services has begun. We will work round the clock to ensure all homes are connected to water,” he said.
Ng’ang’a said once the transition phase is over, his company looks forward to covering Maragua town and Kenol municipality.
Kenol, considered the gateway to the Mt Kenya region and the fastest growing town in the county, has been grappling with an insufficient water supply, forcing many residents to depend on vendors and boreholes.
At the beginning of the month, both water companies were summoned by Water Services Regulatory Board and Muwasco urged to observe its boundaries.
This followed a decision by Governor Irungu Kang’ata to allow the firm to implement a project in Maragua Ridge area, a decision contested by Muswasco.
With a water coverage of only 30 per cent against a county coverage of 70 per cent, Maragua MP Mary Waithera has been at the centre of the fight, rooting for Muswasco to be kicked out of the constituency for failing to supply more residents with the commodity.
Ng’ang’a said he will work with Kang’ata to analyse all the water sources near Kenol town to establish a consistent supply.
“We have already written to Wasreb to have our license reviewed to include Maragua area in accordance to the President’s decree,” he said.
The town that is along the Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriageway is also benefiting from a Sh689 million sewerage project being implemented by Athi Water Development Works. It will also cover Kabati town in Kandara constituency.
Water CEC Mary Magochi said the dam provides up to 8,000 cubic metres of water daily and will see over 20,000 homesteads connected in the water scarce constituency.
“This project is vital to our plan of ensuring all homesteads are provided with clean water in five years. Both of these companies have been part of the process but the project can only be run by one,” she said.
She urged the two firms to co-operate for a smooth transition saying the process will be concluded by next week.
Water Cabinet Secretary Zacharia Njeru is expected to visit the dam and finalise the transition process.
