City Affairs

Governors want Sakaja given powers to manage Northern Collector Tunnel

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja applauds after enjoying a performance at Mogra Children’s home in Roysambu on April 1, 2024. (Photo: Johnson Sakaja/X)

By Barack Oduor | Friday, June 21, 2024

Waiguru added that the decision by WASREB infringes on Nairobi County's constitutional mandate to provide water and sanitation services.

Governors on Friday faulted the Water Services Regulatory Board for allegedly taking over functions devolved to the Nairobi County government.

Council of Governors chairperson, Anne Waiguru, alleged that a notice by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) calling for a public consultation meeting regarding the licencing of Athi Water Works Development Agency as a Water Service Provider for the Northern Collector Tunnel (NCT) is a setback to devolution and should not be tolerated.

Waiguru, who doubles up as Kirinyaga Governor, added that the decision by the board infringes on Nairobi County's constitutional mandate to provide water and sanitation services.

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She added that Kenyans have continuously witnessed an outright clawback on devolution, which has affected nearly all devolved sectors.

"This infringes on Nairobi County's constitutional mandate to provide water and sanitation services. In this regard, we call upon WASREB and the Ministry of Water to immediately suspend the public participation process until all constitutional and statutory concerns are addressed," Waiguru urged.

Northern Collector Tunnel was key to the Jubilee government as it was one of former President Uhuru Kenyatta's flagship projects.

It is set to pump 140 million litres of water daily into Nairobi. The multi-billion-dollar project is slated to be completed in July but the government is pushing for a June deadline.

Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru addresses a press conference in Nairobi, concerning the doctors' strike, on April 16, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

The tunnel will channel water drawn from rivers Gikigie, Irati, and Mathioya into the Ndakaini dam. The water will then be processed at the Kigoro treatment plant.

It is expected that once it begins operating, the problem of water rationing, which has been affecting most Nairobi residents, will be curbed.

Among the beneficiaries will be Gatanga residents who will enjoy a supply of 10 million litres of water daily to compensate them for the project.

The project has three components; the tunnel, treatment plant, and pipeline from the treatment plant to the Gigiri reservoir in Nairobi.

The 11.8-kilometre tunnel is financed by the French Development Agency at a cost of Sh8.2 billion. It was started in 2015 and is only pending the installation of intake gates.

Meanwhile, Waiguru has in the past raised concerns over the National Government's and its agencies' encroachment on devolved functions, particularly markets, housing, and lighting.

Other areas of encroachment by the national government cited by Waiguru include the provision of fertiliser and seeds in the agricultural sector.