“It Is a Great Mistake”: Martha Karua Condemns Water (Amendment) Bill, Warns of Privatization Threat.
Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has voiced strong opposition to the Water (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which proposes privatizing water companies through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
In a recent post on X, Karua responded to Tana River County Senator Danson Mungatana, a supporter of the bill. She argued that privatizing water would risk public access to this essential resource, especially for vulnerable communities. According to Karua, private companies prioritize profits, which could jeopardize affordable and sustainable water access.
“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.
Senator Mungatana, who had earlier addressed the Senate Assembly, argued that the bill would bring a much-needed transformation to Kenya’s water sector. He claims that the proposed legislation would encourage private investment to work alongside county governments and national water agencies, ultimately enhancing water provision across Kenya.
“This law introduces a new beginning for the water sector in Kenya. We have now established legislation to enable private investors to collaborate with county governments and other government agencies to improve water provision for the citizens of Kenya,” Mungatana said.
Privatization Debate
The Water (Amendment) Bill, 2023, first introduced in Parliament in July, aims to permit national water bodies like the Water Works Development Agencies (WWDAs) and the National Water Storage Authority (NWSA) to enter water purchase agreements under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2021. Previously, only county water service providers (WSPs) were allowed to manage such agreements.
A significant barrier to private investment in the water sector has been private investors’ reluctance to commit to long-term agreements with county governments, as county budgets often rely heavily on national government funding. Moreover, the national government has been hesitant to guarantee county obligations.
Currently, under the Water Act, WWDAs are not licensed to operate as WSPs and are required to transfer completed water projects to county WSPs. The proposed amendments would allow private companies to establish long-term PPPs with WWDAs or the NWSA, supported by national government backing.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
