Uasin Gishu, water board locked in row over Sh1.7bn World Bank loan

The Central Bank of Kenya reported a Sh1.9 billion operating deficit for the period ended June this year. FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By Samuel Koech,

Uasin Gishu county government is embroiled in a tussle with Lake Victoria North Water Service Board over the management of Sh1.7 billion loan from World Bank meant for the expansion of two water dams.

The World Bank entered into an agreement with the water board to upgrade the dams in a bid to increase water supply in the county due to the rising consumption and improve service delivery.

Governor Jackson Mandago said that although his government was not opposed to the project, it was concerned that the bank had initially donated Sh289 million towards the upgrading of Chebara dam but the money was allegedly not well utilised. 

Forensic audit

“We will not allow them to go ahead with the project before we conduct forensic audit on the upgrading of Chebara dam,” said Mr Mandago.

“The funds were to increase water volumes to 26,000 up from 15,000 cubic metres per day but we still experience water shortages.” 

However, Eldoret Water and Sanitation (Eldowas) managing director Reuben Tuei denied the claims.

“The funds were not lost at all. It is only after laying of the pipeline from Chebara dam, that the engineer encountered some hitch because it could not carry the additional volumes we had initially anticipated,” he said.

Mr Tuei said that the company had identified the problem would fix it.

“Once we expand the two dams (Kipkaren and Elegarini) we will be able to get additional 19,000 cubic metres, which would adequately address the water woes within the county and we can sell the surplus to other counties,” he added.

Mr Tuei further disclosed that the water board would meet with the governor this week to resolve the standoff.

Early last month, Eldowas secured the funds through Lake Victoria North Water Service Board to upgrade Elegarini and Kipkaren dams which serve as main sources of water supplied to the residents of Uasin Gishu County.

Development loans

“The funds were development loans that the county government will pay in the long run. As a county we will not be servicing debts whose value we can’t account for,” said Mr Mandago.

“Therefore, we need to develop a good working plan before the other projects are implemented.”