A bitter row is brewing in the Ministry of Water over the appointment of the CEO of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA).
The Parastatal has no substantive CEO.
Engineer Sammy Mburu is the acting CEO and is fighting to formerly take charge at the institution.
He has acted for the last 8 months.
However, he is fighting off graft allegations levelled against him when he was at the helm of Lake Victoria South Water services Board.
The DPP has recommended his arrest and prosecution over loss of millions.
On 24th September, Kisumu County Criminal Investigations officer Onesmus Towwet wrote to the chairman of the NWHSA Board to ask Mburu to report to his office in Kisumu 1st October 2019.
“The investigating officers have made two visits into his office in Industrial area in Nairobi but unfortunately he was out of office,” Towett said in his letter.
Speaking to Hot News, Mburu said the graft charges levelled against him are “trumped up”.
He said those saying he should not be appointed because of the allegations should wait until he is charged in court.
“I have done two interviews and emerged position one. I know Andrew Wanyonyi is working through hook and crook to see that I am not confirmed,” Mburu said.He said those opposed to his appointment are “exploiting” a presidential directive requiring all civil servants mentioned in graft deals to step aside until they are cleared by the courts.
According to the Kenya Government circular reference no OP/CAB.39/1A dated 1st March 2018, clause 2 of the circular requires accounting officers under probe to step aside pending conclusion of investigations.
The fight has seen those who want Mburu confirmed as the CEO take the battle to water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui’s doorstep.
They have accused Chelugui of “favoring” Adrew Wanyonyi who came second during the concluded interviews to recruit a new CEO.
However, Chelugui told Hot News that he is not favoring Wanyonyi.
“That’s witch hunt and wild allegations,” Chelugui said.
He added that he received three names from the Board for appointment and picked one.
In the interviews, Mburu emerged position one with 82 marks, Wanyonyi 81 and a Mr Ali 76.
However, after the minister appointed Mburu, the NWHSA Board Chair wrote to the CS saying Mburu cannot be confirmed because of integrity issues.
Chelugui added that the NWHSA board has not written to him over the stalemate.
Insiders say that after the integrity issues were raised on Mburu, the CS was supposed to pick the person who came second in the interview and that is Andrew Wanyonyi.
“Right now, I cannot act because the Board has not written to me on the next action,” Chelugui told Hot News.
He referred as to the Board Chair for more information.
An insider who requested anonymity said the DCI and EACC should
investigate massive corruption at NWHSA.
“The Board of directors of the NWHSA came on board more than six months
ago and started the recruitment process of the CEO and the two General
managers. But after countless meetings and numerous interviews costing sh5m,
none of the officers have been recruited” said the source.
He said “ this is gross incompetence and this board should be dissolved”
The NWHSA was established under the Water Act 2016, as an autonomous agency reporting to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC) transited to NWHSA, which has a new mandate as stipulated in the Water Act 2016.
Its core mandate is to undertake on behalf of the national government, the development of national public water works for water resources storage and flood control.