Watchdog claims water boards corrupt

By Fatuma Fugicha

The water sector is dogged by corruption, a civil society watchdog has said.

Transparency International Kenya (TI) said more than Sh19 billion injected by Government and other stakeholders into the sector may be "sliding away to private hands".

TI Kenya Executive Director Job Ogonda accused the water boards of "spending more money on non-water supplying projects".

Speaking yesterday at the launch of water governance report, Ogonda said weak institutions and laws made it easier for "corruption and embezzling of funds meant to deliver services to the people."

Massive malpractices

Said he: "There were massive malpractice in the water boards which need to be stooped."

Some of the projects undertaken by some water companies were questionable, he added.

Mr Mark Okeyo, a water governance consultant, said officials misused money allocated for the sector on luxuries.

Okeyo said the money could have been used to educate communities on proper use of water resources.

Piped water is said to constitute 46.8 per cent of water sources while 53.2 per cent are bore holes, rivers, wells and water vendors.

The study revealed that respondents had little confidence in the quality of water supplied.

Natural resources

Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they treat water from natural sources compared to 70.2 per cent who treat pipe sources.

The report recommended that the Ministry of Water should ensure that water reforms are well implemented.

"Attempts should be made, especially in low income areas, for water to be supplied on specific days and times of the week during times of rationing or shortage," read the report in part.

It added: "This would reduce waiting time at communal taps because people would go there when water is available. This would also reduce exploitation by water vendors."