The World Bank has withdrawn a Ksh130 million loan meant for the expansion of the Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO).
World Bank has opted out over the fierce battle for control of the company by Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and Equity Bank chairman Peter Munga which has brought provision of water services to a near standstill.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on October 2, Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui pointed a finger at Wa Iria as being the source of all problems in the county that have culminated into the taps of residents running dry.
The CS also accused Wa Iria of arm-twisting water companies under the County Government in a show of might but to the detriment of the locals.
Chelugui took issue with the governor’s move to deploy 300 plumbers across the vast county on September 20 to restore water to residents disconnected by the water company saying that residents have been exposed to health risks and noise pollution.
“We have tried reaching out to the governor but he has not shown any interest in engaging us over the issue. The decision to deploy amateur plumbers has caused massive leakages occasioned by lack of expertise which has exposed the residents to considerable risks,” said Chelugui.
However in an interview with NTV, Wa Iria confirmed that Chelugui has indeed reached out to him to resolve the impasse but he is not interested in his “love letters”.
“I am talking about the Minister of water in particular (Chelugui). He has guts to write letters to me. They are writing letters to me every day. I’ve told them to select one of their beautiful girlfriends to write letters to. I am not one of their girlfriends,” said a visibly irked Wa Iria.
Wa Iria also made light work over the World Bank’s withdrawal of the loan saying that the county is not interested in foreign loans.
“Somebody is telling us that he is going to the World Bank to borrow Ksh130 million to be paid by the people of Murang’a for over 50 years. We are the ones who are supposed to be lending other people money,” said the defiant governor.
