Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (NYEWASCO) has intensified surveillance of its water infrastructure in a bid to guard against vandalism, as the long rains continue to pound the county.
Nyewasco’s Head of Security, Michael Kimondo, told KNA that the move is aimed at thwarting a common trend during the rainy season where unscrupulous individuals vandalize the water infrastructure and make way with the gate valves and water metres.
Kimondo says that the vandals target the metal casing of the metre and brass component that is encased in the gate valve which is popular with scrap metal dealers.
“We had noted a reduction of cases between the months of January and March this year but we started recording incidents with the onset of the rains. We have observed a trend where vandals are taking advantage of the heavy rains that have been pounding the county at night to perpetuate the vice which ends up disrupting water supply to our customers,” said Kimondo.
The latest vandalism incident happened in the wee hours of Wednesday morning where the thieves made away with about 12 gate valves from a residential apartment in the Ruring’u area in Nyeri town.
According to Kimondo, their attempt to steal more gate valves and to vandalize the company’s zonal metre which is located in the same estate, was thwarted when the potential victim raised alarm upon hearing a commotion outside.
In November last year, thieves stole more than 50 water valves and made away with more than 30 metres in Skuta, Kangemi estates in one night. In all these incidences, the thieves perpetrate the crimes during the rainy season.
In September 2023 the company’s Managing Director Engineer Peter Kahuthu decried the increase in the theft of the firm’s pipes, water valves and meters and warned the vice may further complicate supply of water to residents of Nyeri town and its environs. Kahuthu disclosed that the company had lost revenue running into millions of shillings as a result of destruction of key piping and water connection systems.
“One of the key challenges we are having is vandalism or interfering with our infrastructure and as such making service delivery a challenge. Once we have our equipment vandalized it means it will interrupt water supply and interfere with quality of water to our customers. So as management of Nyewasco we are appealing to our customers and supporters to be on the lookout in case they suspect anyone trying to interfere with our water supply chain,” said the MD.
Eng Kahuthu said that the company had sort the help of Police and local administrators to apprehend the culprits. At the time, Eng Kahuthu also disclosed that within a period of three months alone, the company has lost revenue running into millions of shillings following destruction of key piping and water connection systems.
“One of the key challenges we are having is vandalism or interfering with our infrastructure and as such making service delivery a challenge. Once we have our equipment vandalized it means it will interrupt water supply and interfere with the quality of water to our customers. So as management of NYEWASCO we are appealing to our customers and supporters to be on the lookout in case they suspect anyone trying to interfere with our water supply chain,” he told the press.
On Wednesday Kimondo said that to eradicate the vice, the company has now resorted to phasing out the brass gate valves with plastic gate valves as an additional security measure. He said they are also working with landlords to institute additional measures including constructing concrete enclosures for the water infrastructure.
“As an additional security measure, we have been advising our customers with multi-dwelling units to secure their metres in metal or concrete enclosures which require a lot of time to vandalize,” he said.
By Wangari Mwangi
