Members of Parliament have raised serious concerns over the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Authority (LVSWWDA) following an audit that revealed numerous water projects, funded with millions of shillings, are not operational.

The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy, led by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, reviewed audit reports spanning the 2018/19 to 2024/25 financial years. The committee scrutinized the Authority’s management, headed by CEO Jackline Kemunto, over dry taps and non-supplying boreholes across Migori, Nyamira, Kisii, and Bomet counties.

Audit Findings Highlight Failed Projects

  • Site inspections in June 2025 by the Office of the Auditor General identified several completed projects that were not delivering water despite full or substantial payments to contractors.
  • Notable non-functioning sites include Mabera Primary School Borehole, Alara Nyambija Catholic Church Borehole, Isoge Water Supply Project, Ramasha Borehole Phase II, and Kikimirai Central Primary School borehole in Bomet, which was dry despite over Ksh1.1 million paid.

MP Pkosing condemned the projects as lacking value for money and violating Section 79(2)(b) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, which mandates efficient use of public funds. He criticized the absence of proper surveys or water yield testing before project initiation.

Authority Responds with Promises to Rectify Issues

CEO Jackline Kemunto acknowledged the problems and stated that contractors have been instructed to fix the defects. She cited factors such as electricity disconnections, equipment failures, and insufficient maintenance funding by local water committees as contributors to the failures.

Kemunto emphasized that while hydrogeophysical surveys indicate the likelihood of water presence, actual yields can only be confirmed during drilling. She assured that the Authority will undertake pump servicing to support water committees in the short term.

Call for Enhanced Oversight and Value for Taxpayers

The revelations come amid ongoing government investments in water infrastructure, including the Ksh995 billion National Water and Sanitation Investment Plan (NAWASIP) launched in December 2024 targeting expanded clean water access.

The Public Investments Committee resolved to summon LVSWWDA for a follow-up hearing to report on progress in rehabilitating the affected projects, underscoring the imperative of safeguarding taxpayer money and ensuring public resources deliver intended benefits.