Governor Mwadime calls for winding up of water agency

A row has erupted between the Taita Taveta County government and a water agency over the provision of water in a region that has largely remained water insecure.

Today Governor Andrew Mwadime stated that he was pushing for the disbandment of the Coast Water Works Development Agency for failing to supply water to the region.

He instead called for the establishment of county water firms with the responsibility to provide water across the six coastal counties.

Addressing ranchers at the Voi Wildlife Lodge, Mwadime argued that local water firms would be better suited to deliver water efficiently, claiming that the water agency had ‘outlived’ its usefulness.

“The Coast Water Works Agency is only interested in water and money at the expense of service delivery. The state agency should be disbanded and counties given the right to establish their own water firms,” he said.

However, the agency quickly hit back, blaming the county government for the water challenges facing the region.

Director Judith Wabosha stated that the agency was working directly with communities to manage water projects.

Wabosha, who last week accompanied agency chairperson Dr Daniel Mwaringa in commissioning two water projects in the Wundanyi sub-county, said many boreholes had fallen into disuse after the county failed to maintain them.

“We have several boreholes that are not working because the county government failed to maintain them, in addition to not settling water and electricity bills,” she told The Standard.

Wabosha asserted that the agency had made significant efforts and should not be blamed for the region’s water problems.

“We are working directly with the local community after the county administration failed to revive stalled boreholes constructed by the agency.

“We are working with water committees elected by the local residents to implement water projects,” she added.