NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 9 – The Nairobi City Council has dissolved the entire board of directors of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.
Speaking while chairing a full council meeting on Wednesday, Nairobi Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa said an agreement signed between the council and the company over the management of water in the city had ended, nullifying the board.
The agreement we had signed back in 2004 ended in April. We therefore need to discuss new steps over the management of the company,” Mr Majiwa said.
The council meanwhile could not discuss formation of a new board during the special council meeting and will have to hold a special general meeting to review the matter.
“We shall hold a special AGM within 21 days to ratify what council has decided today (Wednesday),” Mr Majiwa directed.
Gore Mohammed, the Makina Ward councillor, proposed the dissolution of the board, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the councillors.
During the meeting, councillors expressed bitter disappointment in the way the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company was run and at several intervals degenerated into a shouting contest between them.
The Mayor said that during a tour of Nairobi on Tuesday, he discovered many illegal connections that diverted water meant for Nairobi.
“There are people out there who are enjoying treated water meant for residents and are using it to irrigate their crops at no cost.”
The Mayor disclosed that he had received a letter from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation urging the City Council to deal with water shortage in the city.
“The letter, which is strong in wording, gives us seven days to seriously address the issue, failure to which serious action would be taken against the council,” he said.
City Hall was represented at the company by Town Clerk Phillip Kisia, Jacob Munge, Alex Otieno and chairperson of the Water Committee Helen Katangie.
Mr Majiwa also sits on the board.
The council also directed that an audit company be sourced to look into the company’s book of accounts.
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