The Malindi Water and Sewerage Company (MAWASCO) loses 40 per cent of its water supply to illegal connections each month, exacerbating the shortage of this essential commodity in Kilifi County.
MAWASCO Managing Director Felix Wanje announced yesterday the formation of a special investigation and enforcement team to address the issue.
Mr Wanje stated that the water theft syndicate also involves politicians whose properties are either illegally connected to the water system or have accrued substantial unpaid bills.
“We received reports that high-profile politicians with properties in Malindi were stealing water. That is why I formed an illegal connection investigation team – to help salvage the company from these thefts and unauthorised connections,” said Mr Wanje.
He added that the theft and illegal connections have deprived the water utility of much-needed funds for operations, further compounding the water crisis in the region.
MAWASCO sources its water from the Baricho water wells, which are managed by the Coast Water Works Agency (CWWA) under the national government. The company supplies water to residents in Malindi and Magarini sub-counties, as well as parts of Kilifi North and Ganze sub-counties.
“We are currently working on estimates to compel defaulters to settle their dues. If they fail to comply, we will press charges for water theft. This is necessary to ensure the company secures funds to maintain its operations. Some premises owe over Sh1 million per month, which totals Sh12 million annually – and yet they haven’t paid anything in the past year,” he said.
Mr John Njoroge, who heads the illegal connections investigation and enforcement team, noted that some clients who had their water disconnected due to non-payment later resorted to hiring private plumbers to reconnect them illegally. He said such individuals would be arrested and prosecuted.
“It is the Coast Water Services Board that sells us water at MAWASCO, and the commodity is metered. When it is stolen, we suffer losses to the extent that we are unable to settle our own bills with Coast Water. That is why we are determined to rectify this. For every Sh100, we lose Sh40,” he said.
