Sonko fires Nairobi Water board
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has suspended the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) board of directors following a week-long workers’ strike that has affected water supply in the capital city.
The workers downed their tools after the board refused to renew the contracts of managing director Eng Philip Gichuki , Commercial director Stephen Mbugua, Finance director Johnson Randu and HR director Rosemary Kijana over non-performance.
Speaking during a meeting with the workers at Kampala offices, Mr Sonko said that they had met with the union officials and listened to their grievances and decided to stop the board from transacting business.
“I will do an official communication to the board stopping them from transacting any business until all the grievances are heard and auditing is done,” said Mr Sonko.
ONGOING STRIKE
Mr Sonko added that the officials had also agreed to call off the ongoing strike.
It was not clear whether Mr Sonko would push for an extension of the MD and the directors since the board had advertised the positions in the local dailies.
Nairobi County workers union representative branch secretary Matilda Kimetto, speaking at the same forum, said that they have been picketing over privatization of the firm.
Ms Kimeto said that the unrest has been there even before the new government, claiming that the board that was constituted by former governor Evans Kidero was harassing them.
SELL THE FIRM
“We want an overhaul of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) as its intention is to sell the firm and also fire the workers,” said Ms Kimetto.
It was an irony of sorts as the same workers had in last year evicted then senator Mike SonKo when he walked in their office demanding to forcibly remove Eng Gichuki from the office.
But during the address, the union pledged to work with the new government and improve water supply in the reservoirs.
They demanded the reinstatement of Eng Gichuki saying that he had steered the firm to a level where they have been recognized internationally.
Speaking at the same forum the acting MD Nahashon Muguna said that the biggest issue that the firm is facing was water shortage.
