A local water company in Nyeri County was recognised as one of the best companies in the world in the Global Water Awards.
Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company (Nyewasco) bagged the Global Water Leaders Award for leading in utility performance, both providing better services to the local community of Nyeri and reducing operational waste as well as for building overall efficiency.
Global Water Award stated that Nyewasco’s innovations and performance are quickly becoming the gold standard for sub-Saharan water services, with a number of others looking to Nyeri for guidance.
"The utility is now coaching other utilities from the region such as the Malawian Central Region Water Board in efficient billing, customer service, renewable energy and mapping," a statement on the official website highlighted.
Nyewasco’s operational performance has been head and shoulders above other water utilities in the country, bringing non-revenue water levels down to just 16% in 2019, compared to the national average of 41%.
Nyewasco extended its successful urban coverage into low-income areas and informal settlements in 2019 by radically rethinking its customer service charter and making a ‘pro-poor policy’ central to its decision-making strategy.
The utility’s steep upward trajectory with regards to performance is reflected by its booming bankability. Nyewasco was one of only three utilities – out of Kenya’s 72 – to be given a clean bill of health in the 2019 national audit, showing it has effective utilisation of public funds and best management practices at its very heart.
The company was founded in 1997 and now serves around 800,000 people, led by its Managing Director Peter Gichaaga.
Nyewasco appreciated the recognition through its social media pages. The MD lauded his team for their correlation and teamwork.
In 2019, it was ranked as one of the best water companies in Kenya.
