The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Director General, Mohamed Badi, has exposed tricks used by water cartels in the Capital City to make profits at the expense of residents.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on Thursday, July 28, Badi stated that he uncovered a mattress stuffed in a water pipe in Industrial Area following a night raid conducted by the NMS.
The NMS boss expressed that he had been intrigued by the lack of water in the area despite various connections being made by the body.
"I was making rounds at night when I came across complaints over a huge pipe that was not removing any water and I ordered that it be opened at night.
"You will be shocked. I found a mattress that was stuffed there to prevent water from coming out. Why? The water bowsers were supplying water at Ksh6,000 per trip," Badi revealed.
Further, the NMS boss noted that some of the cartels were repurposing exhausters to supply water, adding that NMS had put in place plans to address the matter.
Badi further explained that such cases had led to health issues in the county and also contributed to outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
"What is the value of money if you can do such a thing (supplying water using exhauster)?
"We wanted to register all the water bowsers in Nairobi and develop a map to know the driver and the number plate of vehicle supplying water in a particular area."
Badi renumerated that the NMS had moved to lock out scrupulous businessmen taking advantage of city residents since taking over office.
"When I shared my vision of completing 100 boreholes in 100 days, I became a laughing stock. Nonetheless, we were able to sink the 100 bored holes in just 80 days.
"So far, we have sunk a total of 193 boreholes in the informal settlements," he noted.
