Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Joseph Wairagu has once again issued a stern warning to cartels involved in fleecing the water sector in Nairobi and other regions.

Speaking in Kiambu County on Tuesday, The PS said the Ministry is well aware of the cartels who have been drying taps especially in Nairobi and other major towns in the country, and they are drafting measures to put an end to the menace which has deprived of many Kenyans the ease to access clean and safe water.

The PS confirmed that registration of all water bowsers is ongoing.

Residents of Nairobi City County, for instance, have had major water challenges, with some estates going without water for up to weeks and even months due to rationing and malicious interruption of water supply.

“The government is working on measures to operationalize the water sector and that will happen very soon, and we have mapped out all the water browsers, we want to use an app so that we can track them,” said the PS while commissioning the Minja Nyakabugi Water Project in Githunguri, Kiambu County.

The Water Project was put up at a cost of KSh. 6M. PHOTO| COLLINS KIPRONO | AWWDA

He added that once the digitization process which will also happen in other Counties is complete, the cartels will be completely locked out of their shoddy business.

“Water services will be like the digital taxi (Uber) services and it is just a matter of time before we catch up with these cartels and kick them out,” said the PS.

The Minja Nyakabugi Water project was funded by the national government to a tune of Ksh. 6 million through the water for schools program and will benefit about 2500 people in Githunguri Constituency. It was implemented by the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA).

More than 2000 residents of Githunguri are set to benefit from the Minja Nyakabugi Water Project. PHOTO| COLLINS KIPRONO | AWWDA

Mr. Wairagu directed Athi Water Works Development Agency to increase water distribution networks in the area and sort out issues of sewerage for Ginthunguri. He also requested the support of the residents and stakeholders in the implementation of Ruiru II Dam in Githunguri which will serve Ruiru, Juja, and Nairobi.

The PS was accompanied by the area MP, Hon. Gabriel Kago Mukuha, Athi Water Works Chief Manager Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development – Eng. Joseph Kamau and other Senior Officials