Kisii water supply cut over unpaid bills

By ROBERT NYASATO

Kisii County

The Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) has shut down New Kisii Water Supply treatment works to recover a Sh1.9 million debt.

The entire WRMA board led by Chairman Francis Nyenze and Chief Executive Philip Olum visited the treatment works owned by the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company (Gwasco) where they shut down the pumping system to deny staff access until they clear the arrears.

Mr Nyenze said it was the first time his board was disconnecting a water service provider for non-payment of bills. The move will see about 200,000 residents denied access to water.

Painful decision

"We have taken this painful decision to serve as a warning to water service providers that they will be cut off if they fail to settle their arrears," Nyenze, a former Environment Minister said, after shutting down the treatment works located at Kegati, Kisii County.

He said it was disturbing that water users who pay their bills promptly will be inconvenienced because of Gwasco’s non-commitment to settle their arrears.

Usually it is the water service providers who disconnect supply to clients over unpaid bills, but this time around they will find themselves on the receiving end for the next two months, the period the chairman said they would shut down the facility.

"Many of the service providers are reluctant to honour their bills yet this is a highly potential area where clients pay their bills well," Dr Abira said.

Gwasco Managing Director Eng John Mogoba said it was a slight misunderstanding that was sorted out later. "The switching off of the pumping station was a temporary measure but we have discussed and corrected the situation," he said.