A group of locals from Gatanga Constituency, Murang’a County are calling for the arrest and prosecution of Mike Sonko. They allege that the Nairobi governor has been selling water from Murang’a without their express consent.
In addition to Sonko, the residents have asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest top managers of Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco).
In a letter dated September 7, the residents, through their spokesman Patrick Muigai, asked detectives to “move with speed and investigate the circumstances under which Nairobi County is selling water from Murang’a to Nairobi and Kajiado residents without the express consent from Murang’a residents”.
Muigai also asked police to investigate Nairobi’s management of Ndakaini dam despite its location being in Murang’a.
According to Muigai, they decided to seek the agencies’ intervention since the Nawasco has been getting water from Ndakaini for free but has been selling it to Nairobi dwellers.
“Nairobi County has been handling stolen property and selling it to residents, which is an offence. That’s why we want the investigating agencies to arrest the county boss and the top management of Nawasco,” he was quoted by Nation.
He argues that after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, Nairobi should have entered into an agreement with Murang’a that would see it benefit by way of revenue.
The complainant warned that should the DCI fail to instigate charges against Nairobi and Nawasco, they will take court action.
Nawasco MD Nahashon Muguna has, however, played down the allegations saying no community owns water resources in Kenya as these are under the national government as specified in the Constitution.
He said they pay for all the water collected from various resources, including Ndakaini Dam, before it is supplied to residents.
“The residents of Gatanga do not have a case because water management is clearly detailed in the Water Act.,” he said.
Muguna also pointed out the roles of the water resources authority which, according the Act, “formulates and enforces standards, procedures and regulations for the management and use of water resources”.
