World Water Day Public Consultation Meeting……………...………..………..…7 Staff Changes…………………………………………………..…9 Staff End Year Party……..……...……………………………..…14 Innovate 4 Wash…………………………………………..………10

from Tsunami 3rd Quarterly Newsletter

Till We Meet Again

WORLD WATER DAY CELEBRATION

World Water Day banner . File/PHOTO

In our continued efforts to conserve the environment, we embarked on a massive tree planting activity to mark World Water Day 2022. The tree planting exercise was conducted at Kajulu Treatment Plant next to the intake point and about 5000 tree seedlings of various species were planted. This initiative is in line with the water usage advisory shared by the company is meant to enhance the water catchment area of River Kibos.

Speaking during the occasion, the Chief Engineer Technical Services Eng. Moses Jura said that in the yester year, the Nandi Hills was such a big forest that bordered the Kajulu Treatment Plant. Due to serious deforestation, the catchment area has now been left bare. They have completely cleared the forest and are now doing farming instead.

In his address, the representative from Equity Bank Mr. Steve Biko mentioned that Equity Bank was celebrating 35 years since inception and with that they have purposed to plant 35 million trees. KIWASCO has been a great partner to them in their tree planting drive and so far they have planted 12 million trees across the Country. The Chairman of the Community Forest Association Mr. Tonui emphasized on the need for planting bamboo trees along the riparian land. He highlighted the benefits of the bamboo tree among them being its medicinal value, cash crop and its importance in environmental conservation. He promised support to the company in conserving the catchment areas through donations of more bamboo seedlings.

Environmental conservation requires a multistakeholder approach and that is why we partnered with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) both Kisumu and Nandi Counties, the Community Forest Association (CFA), National Youth Service (NYS), Equity Bank, Fresh Life (Sanergy), Kenya Women Environmental Pacesetters (KWEP), and KEFRI.

The degradation of the environment has led to the current state of River Kibos, whose levels have drastically dropped due to the prolonged dry spell. This makes the abstraction process difficult as the water is not sufficient to serve the intended residents. “We must act now and plant more trees around our catchment areas,” Jura concluded.

Eng. Jura with KFS officers planting a tree during World Water Day . File/PHOTO

Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the event File/PHOTO

WORLD WATER DAY PICTORIALS

Kiwasco staff and other stakeholders planting trees during World Water Day . File/PHOTO

PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING ON LICENCE APPLICATION

Stakeholders lifting up their hands in agreement during the meeting . File/PHOTO

KIWASCO and WASREB held a Public stakeholder consultation meeting on License renewal on 1st of March 2022 at Sunset Hotel, in accordance with the Water Act 2016 and the

Constitution of Kenya 2010.

The invitees included Stakeholders representing various groups in the City. This was a hybrid meeting with both virtual and physical attendance where over 70 participants attended physically.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Vinod Patel assured the stakeholders that the company operates within the laid down rules and regulations set by the regulator and the laws of the land. He further justified the reasons why the stakeholders should allow KIWASCO to have their license renewed by highlighting key milestones made over the years. “I urge the stakeholders present to enjoy drinking tap water directly from the tap as we now boast of producing water of good quality”, he concluded.

The representative of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development agency highlighted the projects being undertaken towards enhancing water and sanitation infrastructure in Kisumu City in conjunction with other stakeholders.

The Managing Director KIWASCO, Mr. Thomas Odongo in his presentation highlighted the performance of the company over the last five years and also the future outlook. He also clarified in detail the impact of the newly reviewed tariff to the consumers clearly showing the gainers and losers and explained why the changes had to take place more so in the Low-Income Areas.

The Acting CEO for WASREB Eng. Joseph Keter wrapped up the consultative meeting with an indepth analysis on the topic of licensing. He explained to the stakeholders meaning of a

Stakeholders following proceedings. Photo/file license, the rationale of getting one and the need to have one. He went further to explain the types of licenses the regulator

gives and under which conditions one acquires them. He talked about the benefits of having a valid license from the regulator and the flip side of not having one. He then unveiled KIWASCO’s score which was above 70% and

which qualifies the company for a 5 - year license. This was a moment of joy for KIWASCO fraternity. On posing the question if

KIWASCO should get a new license, there was no opposition from the stakeholders and all raised their hands in affirmation.

KIWASCO therefore has been allowed by the stakeholders to be issued with a 5 year license having met all the other conditions set by the regulator.

MD,Mr. Thomas Odongo addressing the meeting. Photo/

MD, Mr. Thomas Odongo handing over a gift hamper to Eng. Njaggah Dir. Licensing, Standards & Advocacy . Photo/ file

WASREB officials led by Md, Mr. Odongo displaying Kiwasco branded jugs . Photo/ file

STAFF CHANGES

Promotions

During the quarter, the company promoted the following staff members:

Faith Akinyi

Customer Care Manager

Exit.

Carolyne Odero-

Pro-poor Programmes Coordinator

Collins Mwangaza-

Stores Officer

During this Quarter, we had Amos Odhiambo, the Talent & Management Specialist jump ship. Amos left the company after working for 6 years rising from the position of Human Resources Officer to Talent & Management Specialist and at the time of his exit, he was acting in the position of Human Resources & Administration Manager. While informing staff on his exit, the Managing Director remembered Amos for his hard work, dedication and spiritual guidance. He concluded by wishing him success in his career progression.

Mr. Amos Odhiambo addressing staff during the end year party . Photo/ file

INNOVATE 4 WASH CONFERENCE

MD, Mr. Tomas Odongo making a presentation during Innovate4wash conference

Once again Kisumu was privileged to host the Innovate for Wash forum from January 27th to 29th 2022, after being the host in 2019. The event which took place at Ciala resort saw KIWASCO, in partnership with Sanitation Resources & Development Africa (SARDA) and Quercus group being the event organizers. Innovate4WASH is a two-day marketplace platform designed to connect ideas, talent and capital from and outside Kenya, to scale up existing commercial solutions to problems and opportunities in the water and sanitation sector. Speaking during the opening day, the Managing Director Thomas Odongo urged the session conveners to encourage passionate discussions revolving around sanitation which he is mostly interested in because KIWASCO is a catalyst. He went ahead to say that, “look at the sanitation value chain and ask how do we partner with each other from the beginning to the end? he paused. He continued, “we need to draft a sanitation management policy in place.” Mr. Odongo elucidated that some of the outcomes of the forum should be coming up with a simplified sewer system with local solutions.

Fortunate for us, we got four opportunities to pitch our concepts for possible financing. Carolyne Odero gave a proposal on improving sanitation in the Kisumu urban informal settlements, Maurine Ondeng’ spoke about the gaps in the rural water supply, Caroline Omollo presented on ground water as a strategic resource for improved resilience to climate change in KIWASCO and the duo Kennedy Ogudah and Stephen Ocholo gave a comparative analysis of aquatic macrophytes

for treatment of waste in the wetland ponds of KIWASCO. During the 3-day forum, we had a well decorated exhibition booth with ample .

branding. From the booth, we displayed some of our products and services. We had adequate education materials that we shared with the stakeholders who paid a visit to the booth. We also had massive giveaways that we gracefully shared to make a brand statement. On the third day, the participants were taken through field visits of Kajulu Water treatment plant and Nyalenda Oxidation ponds. While at Kajulu, they witnessed the extreme effects of climate change that has contributed to the drying up of River. Kibos.

Delegates visiting our exhibition stand during Innovate4wash conference. Photo/file

Ms Caroline Odero and Maureen Odeng’ among other delegates during Innovate4wash conference presentations .photo/file

They also got a first-hand impression of the destructive human activities that have resulted to deforestation. George Odero then guided them through the process of water treatment from the intake all through to distribution. While at the lagoons, Benjamin gave the participants a visit through the plant, carefully explaining the biological processes involved in the treatment of waste water.

Mr. Kennedy Oguda and Stephen Ochola making a presentation during the conference .Photo/file

Ms. Caroline Omollo making a presentation during the conference .Photo/file

WAREMBO NA MITI

STAFF END YEAR PARTY 2021

The company organized for the end year staff party after skipping it in the year 2020 following the outbreak of Coronavirus. This came as a huge relief to staff who had longed to come together, network and share a meal. At the height of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health had instituted preventive measures against the spread of the virus, which included the ban on

Staff lining up for meals during end year party celebrations. Photo/file

Choir entertaining staff during end year party celebrations. Photo/file

gatherings. As the famous saying by Chinua Achebe, “A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.” The party was held on 17th December, a week before celebrating Christmas day. Staff converged at Kibuye reservoir station during lunch hour where they were treated to a splendid buffet of varied dishes. They also had soft drinks as accompaniment and later got to enjoy booze at the close of the event as they boogied to their favorite tunes. There was entertainment from our cherished choir team who lined up a series of cultural songs and dance. We later got to hear speeches from the Managing Director and a representative of the Chairman who could not attend the event. The outstanding staff per station were each awarded with a voucher and a certificate.

We had two overall awards namely Innovator of the year which went to Rogers Odhiambo and the Brand Ambassador of the year was bagged by one Carolyne Odero. Caro set the record by being the first female ever to win that award. Employees who had retired during the year were also given a good send-off, walking away with a branded clock and a cheque worth Ksh. 50,000 each.

The climax of the celebration was each staff being a shopping voucher worth Ksh. 5000 from Naivas Supermarket. Folks could not hide their joy as they received the shopping vouchers. The staff later took to the official WhatsApp group of the company to shower praises for the MD for honoring them with such great appreciation. What a way to close the year 2021.