Kakamega: Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company (KACWASCO) Managing Director (MD), CPA Charles Tung’a, has vowed to crack down on illegal water connections, meter tampering, and unauthorized borehole drilling. Tung’a expressed concern that over 50 per cent of the water produced by the company is lost through leakages, illegal connections, and unbilled water consumption.
According to Kenya News Agency, the high Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate of fifty-nine per cent against the stipulated twenty-five per cent by the regulator implies that over 50 per cent of the water produced is lost through leakages, illegal connections, and unbilled water consumption. The MD stated that to improve service delivery, the company is investing in new technologies such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to ensure accurate and prompt billing, as well as new gadgets to help meter readers take accurate readings from customers.
Tung’a revealed that the company has implemented a new operational model called District Metered Areas (DMAs), which will create zones in the town with a specific officer tasked to oversee water distributed and sold within their zone from July 2026 onwards. The new system will have all billing consolidated and under control by implementing Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Meter readers will use smartphones to send information directly to the company’s system for automatic billing and instant notification to customers.
Of approximately 38,000 registered connections, 25,000 connections are active and about 11,000 connections are inactive, still receiving water, which the company is looking to correct through targeted interventions. Tung’a, who assumed the role on June 2, 2026, was appointed by the Board of Directors to manage the company’s day-to-day operations and ensure better results for residents in various towns and municipalities.
During an interview at his office in Kakamega town, the managing director mentioned that the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation has established a water police team to crack down on illegal connections, with those caught facing a fine of Sh100,000 and court prosecution. He warned against unscrupulous and illegal connections, sometimes involving collusion with company staff.
Additionally, Tung’a expressed concern over the growing number of borehole drillers and construction companies drilling boreholes without approval from the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and without a no-objection certificate from KACWASCO, posing a threat to water quality and public health. The company urged the county government to halt approvals of borehole digging without proper procedures, fearing the practice could risk water quality for entire communities.
He explained that water services, previously provided by companies under the Ministry of Water, have been transferred to county governments following the enactment of the Water Act of 2016. This has resulted in the company being managed by a Board of Directors funded by the Kakamega County government, with members from various sectors ensuring independence and efficient governance.
Tung’a stated that while financial assistance from the county government is expected to ease the company’s financial burden, KACWASCO primarily relies on customer-generated income to operate. Kakamega County has two water service providers, with KACWASCO serving urban areas and municipalities like Kakamega Town, Mumias Town, and others.
He also highlighted the role of key partners such as the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency, the Ministry of Water, the African Development Bank, JICA, KISIP, and others, whose support is crucial in enhancing water production and distribution for the county’s growing population of over two million people.
The Managing Director announced that the company has collaborated with donors to sponsor last-mile connectivity projects, including Makunga and Kefinco, with a total investment of 180 million shillings. Phase one of the project aims to increase household connections. Additionally, the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency is progressing on more water infrastructure projects, with the Malava Water project at about forty-five per cent completion, which will enhance water connectivity to Malava Municipality and surrounding areas once completed.
