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Thika water firm warns over illegal connections as it unveils expansion plans
Managing Director Moses Kinya says despite raising its revenue from Sh600 million previously to Sh1 billion annually, the company was still incurring huge losses through the illegal connections
Thika Water and Sewerage Company (Thiwasco) in Kiambu County has announced plans to expand its treatment facilities in a bid to inject an additional 15 million litres of water per day to help address the current supply deficit.
However, the water distribution and treatment firm warned of illegal connections that have led to huge losses besides disrupting supply to the more than 43,000 direct customers.
Managing Director Moses Kinya said despite raising its revenue from Sh600 million previously to Sh1 billion annually, the company was still incurring huge losses through the illegal connections.
Speaking during Thiwasco’s annual stakeholders meeting in Thika, Kinya said the offence of water theft attracts a fine of Sh100,000 for illegal commercial or industrial connections and Sh30,000 for domestic use.
He also appealed to members of the public to report any cases of theft of water or burst pipes to help minimise the losses.
“The losses through illegal connections are also likely to lead to increase in water tariffs because it amounts to an inefficiency, so it is imperative for the public to help us eradicate this by reporting the culprits,” said Kinya.
In addition, the official said there are at least 16,000 new sewer line connections which has partly contributed to the improved revenue collection.
He further said the expansion plan is part of a broader strategy to ensure reliable water access for the fast-growing Thika population as it gears to become an industrial city.
In addition to the planned expansion, Thiwasco is set to benefit from an extra 21,000 cubic meters per day from the Kariminu II Dam once the national government secures the necessary funding to complete the project.
Board Chair Maina Ruo noted that the company has long-term plans to construct a 40-meter-high mega dam, which will increase the water production capacity from the current 36,000m³ to 70,000m³ per day.
“This is meant to increase supply to match the projected population growth which indicates that by the year 2047, there will be a water deficit of 110,000 cubic meters in Thika town,” Ruo pointed out.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that the water firm is prepared to meet the demands of Thika’s proposed industrial city status.
Echoing the urgent need for government support, Thika Business Community chairman Alfred Wanyoike called on the national government to fast-track funding, emphasizing that residents have endured persistent water shortages.
Wanyoike at the same time dismissed as impossible, any scheme to merge Thiwasco with other water firms in the county or divert its water resources, saying the institution should be allowed to run independently.
The ambition to elevate Thika Town into Kenya’s sixth city took a significant step forward after the Kiambu County Assembly unanimously approved a report proposing its transformation into an industrial smart city.
