Suley2019
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 7, 2019
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Ripoti iliyotolewa na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Serikali ya Kenya imefunua ufisadi mkubwa, udanganyifu, na utendaji mbovu katika kampuni za maji na usafi unaofanyika katika mikoa mbalimbali.
Ripoti hiyo imebaini kwamba licha ya kuwa ni jukumu la ugatuzi, kampuni za maji na usafi katika mikoa mingi zimeendelea kuwa mikononi mwa makampuni binafsi, kunakowanyima wananchi kupata huduma ya maji kwa gharama nafuu.
Ripoti inaonyesha kuwa makampuni binafsi kwa kushirikiana na maafisa wa Serikali wamekuwa wakihusika katika udanganyifu na ubadhirifu ambapo kaunti 47 zimepoteza mapato zaidi ya Ksh.47 bilioni.
Baadhi ya mikoa ambayo imeorodheshwa kwa udanganyifu na ubadhirifu ni pamoja na Wajir, Murang'a, Nairobi na Kaunti ya Taita Taveta.
Kampuni ya Maji na Maji Taka ya Wajir (Wajir Water and Sewerage Company Limited) ilibainishwa kwa kukiuka taratibu za ajira ambapo iliajiri wafanyakazi 521 bila kufuata taratibu sahihi.
Kamati ya Mkaguzi Mkuu imeiomba Tume ya Maadili na Kupambana na Ufisadi (Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission) kufanya uchunguzi wa upotevu wa fedha kwa Kampuni ya Maji na Maji Taka ya Wajir (WAJWASCO) kupitia ajira haramu ya zaidi ya wafanyakazi 500 na matumizi mabaya ya ofisi.
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A report released by the Auditor General has blown the lidon massive corruption, malpractice and poor management in water and sanitationcompanies across various counties.
The report which has been adopted by the Senate PublicInvestment Committee revealed that despite it being a devolved function, waterand sanitation companies across most counties remain in the hands of privateentities denying the majority of the population in those counties access to affordablewater.
The report shows that the private companies in collaborationwith corrupt county officials have been engaging in malpractices and embezzlingthe 47 counties in excess of Ksh.47 billion in lost revenue.
Some of the counties that have been flagged for malpractice and embezzlementinclude Wajir, Murang’a, Nairobi and Taita Taveta Counties.
Wajir Water and Sewerage Company Limited was cited forflouting hiring protocols and irregularly hiring 521 employees withoutfollowing due procedure.
The committee has asked the Ethics and Anti-CorruptionCommission to initiate investigationsinto the possible loss of funds from Wajir Water and Sewerage Company Limited (WAJWASCO)through irregular employment of over 500 staff and abuse of office.
Murang’a County is one of the counties where ownership andmanagement of water services is in the hands of private investors.
Ownership of 4 out of 5 water and sanitation companies inMurang’a is in private hands despite the county sinking huge investments intothe infrastructure. The revenue generated does not go to counties.
The private companies reaping from county investments include; Murang’aWater and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO); Murang’a South Water and SanitationCompany (MUSWASCO); Murang’a West Water and Sanitation Company (MWESCO) and GatamathiWater and Sanitation Company.
The only County-owned company is Gatanga Water and Sanitation Company.
The committee established that the four companies were established and fundedthrough public funds by the defunct local authorities but have not beentransferred to the county yet.
Another County water body cited for malpractices is Nairobi City Water and SewerageCompany. The report indicates that the county cannot account for revenueamounting to Ksh. 39.2 million pointing to the loss of public funds throughembezzlement.
The missing money is from the licensing of 657 or 85% oflicensed private water bowsers.
Taita Taveta County is also implicated of malpractice and mismanagement ofpublic funds through the Tavevo Water and Sewerage Company Limited.
The county has been cited for irregular payments ofdirectors' emolument, allowances and night-out claims amounting to Ksh.1.2million.
To stop the losses, the senate committee has invited EACC totake over the investigation and already EACC has launched a probe into irregularpayment of emoluments and allowances, and blatant disregard of public procurementlaws and regulations resulting in loss of public funds through collusion.
The anti-graft body will also be looking into the non-remittanceof revenue and irregular recruitment of staff without involving the CountyPublic Service Boards.
The failure to submit statutory deductions payable to KRA,NHIF, and NSSF and also pension, failure to submit this money despite deducting itfrom employees continues to cause long-standing pending bills.
EACC has also asked the Governors put in place systems and procedures toaddress the identified malpractices in accordance with the applicable laws.
“As a preventive measure aimed at averting more lossesand wastage while investigations continue, EACChas written to all 47 Governors requiring them to take reform actions pursuantto their constitutional responsibility as Chief Executive Officers under Article179(4) of the Constitution,” says EACC.
Governorshave been asked to submit a mitigation plan for addressingthe above malpractices and thereafter provide quarterly implementation progressreports for review and monitoring by the Commission effective from the firstquarter of 2023/2024 financial year.
