The Department of Water Services has inducted members of the recently appointed Selection Committee on legal and institutional frameworks governing water services provision in Kenya.
The induction is a critical phase aimed at equipping the Selection Committee with the necessary skills to recruit the board of directors to the Urban and Rural Water Companies.
A legal practitioner and facilitator, John Muruka, emphasized sticking to guidelines set by the Water and Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) and the regulations outlined in the Water Act, 2016 as the basis for setting up the recruitment advertisement.
He also highlighted the need to map stakeholders to ensure inclusive outcomes that comply with legal requirements.
“The selection committee’s role is to conduct recruitments, prepare reports, and submit them for ratification at the Annual General Meeting,” Mutuku said.
The County Executive for Water Services, Faith Aletea, indicated the plan aligns with the County Government’s Agenda to make water accessible to all Turkana residents.
She noted the approach would delegate the management responsibility to the grassroots level through the management of the two water companies, thus creating an opportunity for the Department to undertake supervisory roles.
The CECM Aletea asked the Committee to appoint competent and well-experienced directors in matters of water provision.
On the same note, the Chief Officer for Water Services, David Maraka, assured the committees of his support and readiness for the task at hand, while telling them to consider the importance of water provision to all the residents across the County.
He cautioned the team against potential conflicts of interest during the recruitment process.
During the induction, the Committee voted to appoint the chair, in which Mary Lomojo from Turkana West was proposed to hold the position.
Lomojo, the new chair, will be expected to lead the Committee in executing its mandate under the law.
The induction was attended by Paul Lotum (Director of Water Services), Aremon George (Deputy Director of water Services), and Esther Lokitoe (MD Lowasco).
