Today, the Senate Committee for County Public Investments and Special Funds, presided over by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, convened a meeting with the Governor of Murang'a County, Dr Irungu Kangata. The meeting was necessitated by the need for the Governor to clarify issues raised in the Auditor General's Report. This report pertained to the financial health of several water and sanitation companies in Murang'a County, spanning the fiscal years 2018 to 2021.

These companies, namely the Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company Limited, Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Limited, Gatanga Community Water Scheme, and Kahuti Water and Sanitation Company Limited, were subjected to financial scrutiny.

Earlier this month, Governor Kangata communicated to the Committee through a series of letters, expressing that he could not vouch for the management's responses to the Auditor General’s Reports pertaining to the aforementioned water companies. These letters emphasized that the companies had not conformed to the standards set out by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) regarding water provision in Kenya. According to these guidelines, county governments are expected to own and hold shares in Water Service Providers, a condition also embedded in the Water Act of 2016. However, the Governor provided reassurance that the Gatanga Community Water Scheme had successfully adhered to these regulations.

In response to this state of affairs, the Committee has directed Governor Kangata to assume responsibility for all water companies in the county. This requirement, which is rooted in the country's constitution, identifies water as a function that is devolved to the county level.

In addition, the Governor has been tasked with ensuring compliance with the WASREB advisory within a month. The end goal is to transfer full ownership of these companies to the County Government of Murang’a, in accordance with the law.

The Governor is also directed to reconstitute the Boards of Directors for all water companies in the county. To scrutinise this further, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been requested to examine the ownership status and operational activities of all water companies in Murang’a County. The Committee expects to receive a detailed report from the EACC in the upcoming month.

Furthermore, the Committee has arranged a follow-up meeting with the Murang’a County Executive to review the audit reports of the water companies. As part of broader regulatory measures, the County Government is advised to cooperate with the County Assembly to conceive and implement a county water Act. This Act will be instrumental in guiding the operations of the water companies.

Lastly, the Committee plans to invite the Directors of the Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company Limited to a meeting, aimed at addressing matters related to the transfer of the water company to the county government in alignment with the WASREB advisory.

Senator Godfrey Osotsi was accompanied by Senators, including Vice Chair Prof. Tom Ojienda, William Kisang, Tabitha Mutinda, Eddy Oketch, Ledama Olekina, Karungo Thangwa, and Miraj Abdullahi Abdulrahman. Also in attendance was Murang’aSenator Joe Nyutu present as a friend of the committee.