Evans Kidero defends nomination of water firm boss

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has defended the nomination of immediate former Mayor George Aladwa as the chairman of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited (NCWSCL).

Mr Aladwa is set to replace outgoing chairman Peter Kiguru, whose term has ended.

A stakeholders’ meeting last Wednesday ratified Aladwa’s appointment ahead of the board’s meeting that is yet to take place to conduct the elections.

Kidero spoke after Mr Kuguru objected to the move saying it was not procedural.

“In line with the directive of the sector regulator, the status quo at NCWSCL remains unchange. I therefore inform all board members on the registrar’s record they are in the office legally. In this regard, I direct the MD and CS to facilitate board committees as usual until formalisation of transition by the Governor’s office and stakeholders is effected,” said Kuguru in his letter to members of the board.

But Dr Kidero said yesterday the company is under his government and he was within the law to nominate Aladwa to join the board.

“Ask Kuguru to cite any law that backs him. He is out of order and he needs to read all laws that govern the water sector,” said Kidero.

He added that the process to change the directors at the registrar of companies is ongoing.

Kidero said he expects Aladwa and the company management team to steer it to a new level of delivery of services to the city residents.

The company is a water service provider charged with the provision of the water and sewerage services in Nairobi.

Board members

It has an independent board of 12 directors constituting of professionals drawn from private sector organisations, the NGO sector and the city county.

The move comes at a time when NCWSCL plans to increase the cost of water. It has asked the Water Services Regulatory Board for authority to increase water tariffs in the city.

The Nairobi water firm serves more than 600,000 customers.

It says new proposed tariffs are necessary to improve delivery through a number of investments that will, among other things, aim to achieve uninterrupted water supply by 2016.

The company cites the cost of electricity, water treatment chemicals, pipes, fuels, lubricants, sewers and fittings, which have risen significantly – necessitating the review.

The water firm argued in its proposal that the review is necessary because the existing water infrastructure has become unsustainable with rising demand.

If approved, the new prices would remain in place for three years, officials said.