Kitui County Members of National assembly have opposed a move by the Ministry of Water to disband Tanathi Water Services Board in the ongoing Water sector reforms that seeks to introduce regional water bodies.
In the new water policy, Kitui and Makueni Counties will be served under the Coast Water Services Board while Machakos County will be administered under Athi water Services with the County of Nairobi.
Speaking in Tseikuru in Kitui County Kitui East legislature Nimrod Mbai flanked by Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North), Rachael Nyamai ( Kitui South), Edith Nyenze ( Kitui West) and the County Mp Irene Kasalu , the law makers termed the move as unfair to the people of the arid and semi arid lower Eastern Counties.
The law makers said that the new water reforms will deny the people of Ukambani water projects valued at over Ksh. 5 Billion which were to be funded by Africa Development Bank (ADB) among other development partners.
The regional offices of Tanathi Water Services Board are currently in Kitui town and are set to be relocated to Mombasa if the new water policy sees the light of the day.
Mr. Mbai urged the Jubilee Government to stop the implementation of the said new water policy adding that water challenges in Ukambani should be administered from the region.
“Over 90% of water in Ukambani has been achieved through Tanathi, we will not accept the move because our water challenges are unique from other regions” said Mbai.
He said that a Government that thinks of disbanding Tanathi has no good intentions to the over 3 million people of Ukambani.
“We urge President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to tour the region and bring more water projects through Tanathi”
His sentiments were echoed by his Mwingi North Counterpart Engineer Paul Nzengu who vowed to table a motion in parliament to oppose the move, calling on his colleagues from Eastern province to rally behind him.
