Maragua MP opposes Wasreb meeting to resolve Murang'a water wars

The battle over control of water supply in Murang'a has taken a new twist after Maragua MP Mary Wamaua asked Governor Irungu Kang'ata not to attend a meeting called by the Water Service Regulatory Board (Wasreb).

Wasreb scheduled the meeting on January 30 in efforts to address conflict over control of water boundaries between Murang'a Water (Muwasco) and Murang'a South Water (Muswasco).

Addressing a meeting in Mucharage village, Maragua Ridge Ward, the MP claimed that there was an attempt to eject Muwasco from operating in Maragua, where Muswasco is unable to supply water to residents.

"Convening of the meeting by the regulator is suspicious as Muswasco declined to transfer its ownership to the county government as directed. Kang'ata should not have a forum with a company that ignored his directive to transition," said Wamaua.

In a circular dated January 15, Wasreb proposes to redraw the areas of operations between Muwasco and Muswasco following a protracted battle.

"Without the consent or against the objection of any such other licensee if the regulator board is satisfied that the other licensee is unable to meet the demand for water in its area of jurisdiction or it is otherwise unable to provide a commercially viable service," the circular reads in part.

The MP said Muwasco had delivered piped water to Mucharaga, Maranjaua, and Kambiti after Muswasco failed despite allocation of the area by the regulator.