At least 13 people have been arrested in Homa Bay town following a crackdown on water thieves conducted by Homa Bay Water and Sanitation Company (HOMAWASCO) in collaboration with the Water Police Unit.
The suspects were found engaging in various illegal malpractices including meter tampering, illegal bypass connections and installation of unauthorized water meters, leading to significant revenue losses for the water utility company.
Speaking to the press, the company’s Managing Director Tom Nyonje said the operation, which lasted three weeks, enabled the company to recover Sh1.8 million in unpaid bills and penalties from customers who had bypassed the official billing system.
He said water theft remains one of the biggest challenges facing water utilities in the county and the country at large, noting that nationally, non-revenue water stands at about 44 per cent, translating to approximately Sh11 billion losses. “In Homa Bay, non-revenue water had previously reached about 68 per cent, but through various interventions we have reduced it to around 40 per cent, which is still very high,” he said.
The MD noted that several water kiosks in the Kotieno area, which he said was a hotspot for illegal water connections, had been temporarily disconnected as part of efforts to streamline water distribution and curb the commodity’s theft.
He explained that the company was constructing a centralized meter chamber where all vendor meters will be installed and secured to prevent tampering. “Once the chamber is completed, only authorized officers from the company will access the meters for inspection to ensure accountability,” he said, adding that vendors will also be vetted before their connections are restored.
The Chairman of the Homa Bay Town Kiosk Owners Water Vendors Association, Eliud Nixon Osso, on the other hand pledged vendors’ support to the company’s efforts in eliminating water theft. “We as vendors do not support water theft in any form. When there is water theft, it becomes difficult to supply water consistently and maintain good quality services,” he said.
Osso called on all water vendors and stakeholders to operate honestly and comply with the regulations governing water distribution.
He acknowledged that the crackdown in the Kotieno area revealed several malpractices and said the association would hold meetings with its members to ensure compliance. “We support the ongoing crackdown as long as it is conducted in a fair and orderly manner. Our members will cooperate with the company to ensure water is supplied honestly and in accordance with the rules,” he added.
He further confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the company to restore water supply to vendors once the centralized meter chamber is completed, noting that the arrangement would help prevent meter tampering and illegal connections.
By Sitna Omar
