Wote Residents Demand Action in a Hard-Hitting Memo to WOWASCO

By  Wambua Love

WOTE, MAKUENI — A scathing public memorandum has been submitted to the Wote Water and Sewerage Company (WOWASCO), demanding immediate action and legal accountability over the long-standing water crisis plaguing

Wote Town and its environs.
Authored by Alexander Kyalo Maingi, a resident of Wote and citizen advocate, the memorandum—dated August 5, 2025—describes the situation as a “chronic and systemic water shortage crisis” that continues to affect over 40,000 residents despite substantial public investment.

The letter, addressed to WOWASCO’s Managing Director, accuses the utility company of violating constitutional rights, ethical obligations, and principles of public accountability.
“The right to clean and safe water is a justiciable human right,” the memorandum reads, citing Article 43(1)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 5(1) of the Water Act, 2016.

It underscores that water is not a privilege but a legally protected right reinforced by Goal 6 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The complaint zeroes in on the Kaiti Water Project, which is operated by WOWASCO and funded by both public and donor resources.

The project, according to Maingi, has become the epicentre of controversy due to widespread allegations of deliberate diversion of water to private interests.

These actions, the letter claims, are being enabled either through the protection or negligence of public officials mandated to ensure equitable water distribution.
With three official stamps acknowledging receipt of the memorandum, including from WOWASCO and the Makueni County Government, the document represents a formal legal escalation of growing public outrage in Wote. It further invokes Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution—highlighting values of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.
“Every Kenyan has a right to accessible and adequate water. This right cannot be derogated through mismanagement, diversion, or negligence by duty bearers,” it reads in part.

Water scarcity in Wote was first brought to the floor of the Makueni County Assembly in February 2025 by the area MCA, Mr.Felix Mateso, who demanded swift action to restore water supply to residents.
“We need immediate intervention. Residents can not be subjected to such hardship, especially when water is a basic necessity,”  Mateso  stated.

During the debate members raised concerns about Wote Water and Sanitation Company’s (WOWASCO) capacity to effectively manage water distribution.
The move marks a significant shift in how residents are responding to governance failures, transitioning from quiet frustration to assertive civic action rooted in constitutional and human rights frameworks.
The memorandum’s submission follows months of complaints by residents, some of whom have been forced to rely on unsafe or expensive alternatives as taps remain dry in many parts of Wote town and surrounding villages. Questions now abound over who is truly benefiting from the water infrastructure meant to serve the public.
WOWASCO is yet to issue a public response to the allegations, but the pressure is mounting.

With formal documentation now on record, the matter could attract further scrutiny from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), and other oversight bodies.
As the situation unfolds, the people of Wote are sending a clear message: access to water is not optional—it is a constitutional obligation, and those in charge must be held to account.
Follow The Anchor for more updates on public interest matters in the counties of Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni.

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