Kenya Insights

Tag: Coast Water Works Development Agency

  • Exposed; EACC Probes Coast Water Works Development Agency Boss Simon Charo Menza Over Fraud, Bribery

    Exposed; EACC Probes Coast Water Works Development Agency Boss Simon Charo Menza Over Fraud, Bribery

    It is now official that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Human Resource Management Kenya have jointly been invited and challenged to probe the conduct of the Human Resource Head at the Coast Water Works Development Agency.

    The Commission for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ) has written a complaint letter dated 21st January 2025, which was received on 22nd January 2025, concerning the dealings and conduct of the Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA) Human Resource Manager, Simon Charo Menza.

    The lobby group wants the two bodies to probe the said official for allegedly “soliciting and receiving bribes from members of the public to influence tenders.”

    “He allegedly received a sum of Kshs 500,000 from John Abura Oucho to influence an award of a tender for repairs and painting of a resource centre,” the commission states through its advocates in part of the letter seen by Kenya Insights.

    The said John Abura Oucho instituted a suit in Mombasa SCCC No. E512 of 2023 against the water agency.

    The complaint also stated that on 5th January 2024, CWWDA carried out an advertisement in a local daily to recruit and fill vacancies. The process is alleged to have been marred by corruption and irregularities.

    “There were massive irregularities, misconduct, and other reports of malpractices regarding the manner in which the recruitment process was conducted, including open bribery, soliciting for bribes and funds, corruption, influence peddling, tribalism, nepotism, and other malpractices spearheaded by one Simon Charo Menza,” it was noted.

    According to the commission, Charo was the secretary of the board during the recruitment process.

    Applicants allegedly had to part with money ranging from Kshs 300,000 to Ksh 1 million to secure their jobs.

    According to the suit, six interested parties, among them Charo, were literally handpicked into their positions, whereas other eligible employees of the water agency were denied a chance to be appointed to these positions.

    The position of Martin Tsuma, who is also serving in an acting capacity, has also been put in the spotlight, considering he has served in the same capacity beyond the regulated time.

    According to insiders, Tsuma is currently pushing for some tenders to be awarded so that he gets his chunk of percentages from the contractors.

  • Coast Water Works Development Agency Engulfed In Corruption

    Coast Water Works Development Agency Engulfed In Corruption

    The Coast Water Works Development Agency has earned a reputation as the most inefficient agency in Kenya’s water sector.

    A report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu shows that nearly all projects are behind schedule.

    Meanwhile, acting CEO Sao Alima enjoys a close relationship with key government officials, making him seemingly untouchable.

    As a result, taxpayers face increased water shortages while the agency struggles to deliver on its commitments. Let’s dive deeper into the issues plaguing this vital agency.

    Coast Water Agency

    The Leadership Crisis at Coast Water Agency

    The senior management team at Coast Water is mostly filled with acting positions. Only four out of eleven top managers hold substantive roles.

    This lack of leadership stability hampers decision-making and progress. Acting CEO Martin Tsuma and his team, including Simon Charoh and David Kanui, face mounting scrutiny.

    Notably, the board of directors, led by Daniel Mwaringo, holds limited oversight authority. The absence of permanent leadership in senior positions raises alarms about the agency’s efficiency and accountability.

    Project Delays: Where Is the Water?

    The Coast Water Agency has seen several projects stalled for years. For instance, the construction of the Baricho Well-Field Protection Works began in 2021 but remains unfinished despite a budget of Sh3.6 billion.

    The agency signed a contract for this project with a completion date of November 2022. But during an audit in October 2023, it was clear that the project was still incomplete.

    Another problematic project is the Mombasa North Mainland Phase 1. Initially expected to finish in 2022, it has faced multiple delays.

    The contractor has received over Sh370 million but failed to complete the work on time. The agency issued a warning regarding potential penalties, yet progress remains stagnant.

    The Consequences of Inaction

    The long delays in these projects have serious impacts. Residents continue to suffer from water shortages, and the financial waste puts taxpayer money at risk.

    As projects stall and costs escalate, the possibility of delivering safe and reliable water to the community diminishes.

    The Auditor General’s reports highlight a glaring need for better management and accountability within the Coast Water agency.

    In conclusion, the Coast Water Works Development Agency faces significant challenges. Delayed projects, ineffective leadership, and the lack of urgency jeopardize water services and public trust.

    Immediate reforms and stronger oversight are essential to address these issues and improve service delivery. Without action, the agency’s troubling trajectory will likely continue.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRnrH3bHPQ

  • Omar Boga, fellow political rejects milking Coast Water dry

    Omar Boga, fellow political rejects milking Coast Water dry

    Directors at Coast Water Works Development Agency are ruthlessly looting to raise money to finance their their 2022 election campaigns. Most of the directors are politicians who were rejected in previous polls including the board chair, Omar Boga who was recently defeated in Msambweni by-elections where he ran for the parliamentary seat.

    Boga who vied on ODM Party ticket and backed by the system lost to independent candidate Faisal Bader but was later be gifted with the government job following the death of the former chair Mustafa Idd.

    The political rejects at the helm of the state owned agency are lobbying for rogue contractors to win tenders and give them kick backs.

    Coast Water’s acting chief executive officer Martin Tsuma has raised concerns over the looting appetite of the directors as he threatens to return to his former position if nothing is done. He wants serious changes effected in the Coast water board to tame selfish interests and safeguard donor funds.

    Tsuma held the position of technical services manager but was elevated to a CEO position in an acting capacity after Boga fired the former CEO Jacob Torrut.

    The former Msambweni aspirant has only been targeting individuals perceived to be politically aligned to the Deputy President William Ruto who dominated the top positions.

    Individuals like Torrut were appointed when Simeon Chelugui (Rutao man) was the Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary but he remained without a ‘godfather’ after Chelugui was moved to the Labour and Social Services ministry.

    Chelugui was replaced by Cecily Kariuki, a system friendly CS who appointed Boga the Chairperson of Coast Water Works Development Agency for a 3 year term.

    “IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 66 (1) of the Water Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation appoints—
    OMAR BOGA to be Chairperson of the Coast Water Works Development Agency, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 26th February, 2021,” the notice read.