The Marsabit water and sewerage company (MARWASCO) has instituted measures to enable delivery of efficient water services to residents of Marsabit town and its environs in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) demand.
The new management at the company has installed a water utility master system with 9 service delivery zones aimed at ensuring that the precious commodity which has eluded the residents for a long time is readily available and affordable.
MARWASCO managing director Stephen Katelo told stakeholders during the launch of the system at Paradise Inn that automation of water and sewerage services was not only aimed at enhancing efficiency but to also make the company accountable.
Mr Katelo added that the new move had enabled the company to check on poor record keeping which was being done manually leading to loss of productive man-hours and ineffectiveness.
The company has been able to grow its number of metered water connections from 100 at take over time less than a year ago to 500 connections.
“These connections include institutions, community owned water kiosks and individuals that are now fully operational with reliable water supply” he told the forum that was graced by the county secretary Hussein Tari and the CEC for water and environment Malicha Boru.
The managing director added that revenue collection was on an upward trend now standing at sh 800, 000 per month as loopholes that led to loss of both water and charges had been sealed.
The company which has also invested heavily in the capacity building of its personnel now does correct billing and demand for payment to consumers online through use of mobile phones.
Mr Katelo disclosed that the company urgently needs sh 100 million to restore water distribution lines that were destroyed by road construction works during the tarmacking of the road network in the town.
The managing director believes that full restoration of water supply to the town which was recently upgraded to a municipality would enable the company to rake in sh 3 million in revenue per month.
Availability of water at the household level would also enable residents and institutions to grow some trees in their compounds hence assisting in the fight against climate change.
The county secretary also pointed out that the county government was allocating a lot of resources to its various departments to deliver services to the residents and that no excuse would be entertained for non-performance.
He cautioned county executive committee members and their accounting officers that they would be expected at the end of the financial year to account for every penny allocated to their dockets.
Authored by
Corporate Communication Officer
Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company.
