Courtesy: Daily Nation

The Kisumu Municipal Council has privatised water and sewerage services.

This follows the inauguration of the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company at the weekend. 

A former Kenya Railways Corporation managing director, Mr Erick Nyamunga was elected chairman of the company's board of directors.

Mr Nyamunga said the water and sewerage system needed an urgent overhaul to avert disease outbreaks. He promised efficient service, adding that the company would be independent of the council.

Kisumu's sewerage treatment plant broke down six years ago, resulting in the flow of raw waste into Lake Victoria.

Water services remain a flop and residents seek the precious commodity in unhygienic shallow wells.

Said Mr Nyamunga: "We are optimist that we'll perform because we are focused solely on water and sewerage services."

Some of those elected to the board were Mayor Shakeel Shabbir, Town Clerk Claudius Mbinda, Treasurer Kipyegon Rop and water and sewerage General Manager Moses Ogomba.

Others were Ms Rhoda Obadha of the Agricultural Finance Corporation and Cllr Kepha Koteng. 

Mayor Shabbir said their first action step would be to shut down illegal water kiosks that currently dot the lakeside town.

He said the Council was earning a meager Sh6 million in revenue from its water services instead of Sh40 million every month.