Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has expressed her opposition to the Water (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to privatize water companies through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
The opposition leader took to her X account on Thursday, October 24, 2024, to respond to Tana River County Senator Danson Mungatana, who supports the bill.
Karua argued that privatizing the water sector would undermine public access to this essential resource, especially for vulnerable populations. She emphasized that private companies are primarily profit-driven, which could jeopardize the affordability and sustainability of water services.
“This will mess access by citizens especially the vulnerable because the private sector is profit-driven whereas water sector reforms were designed to keep water accessible and sustainable as a public good,” Karua stated.
This will mess access by citizens especially the vulnerable because private sector is profit driven whereas water sector reforms were designed to keep water accessible and sustainable as a public good https://t.co/NVq3XTkBD3
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) October 24, 2024
Senator Mungatana, who had earlier spoken in favour of the bill before the Senate Assembly, argued that the proposed law would mark a positive turning point for Kenya’s water sector.
According to him, the bill aims to bring in private investors to collaborate with county governments and national water agencies, improving water provision across the country.
“This law introduces a new beginning for the water sector in Kenya. We have now established legislation to enable private investors who will collaborate with county governments and other government agencies involved in water affairs to improve water provision for the citizens of Kenya,” Mungatana said.
Privatization
The Water (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was first presented in Parliament in July 2023, seeks to permit national water organizations like the Water Works Development Agencies (WWDAs) and the National Water Storage Authority (NWSA) to engage in water purchase agreements through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2021.
Previously, only county water service providers (WSPs) were allowed to undertake this responsibility.
One of the barriers to private investment in the water sector has been the hesitation of private investors to commit to long-term agreements with county governments and WSPs, as county budgets are primarily reliant on national government funding. Additionally, the national government has been unwilling to guarantee county obligations.
Under the existing Water Act, WWDAs are not licensed to operate as WSPs and must transfer management of completed water projects to county WSPs. The proposed amendments would allow private entities to structure long-term PPPs with WWDAs or the NWSA, benefiting from national government support.
