Acting Kenya Film Classification Board chief executive officer Joel Wamalwa is man under siege. His decision to head a water agency that has seen him pitch tent at the ministry’s headquarters at Maji House has left many baffled with tongues wagging.
KFCB
At KFCB, staff accuse Wamalwa of being bullish, uncooperative and not being a team player. Known to engage into infighting internally, he orchestrated the removal of Ezekiel Mutua then CEO and Christopher Wambua, his predecessor to be appointed acting CEO.
At KFCB, Wamalwa who openly boasts that he is related to former cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa is chestthumping that he is set to be appointed the CEO of Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency.
Wambua
According to him, when Eugene was Water CS during Uhuru Kenyatta era, he managed to plant people in strategic ministry positions that are helping him land at LVNWDA.
But what is bound to cost Wamalwa as he eyes the CEO at Kakamega-based water agency is his dealings with former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya. He served as an official in Oparanya’s county government and his name features prominently in a number of scandals, more so Oparanyacare Health project that stalled midway after consuming millions of shillings. During the last general elections, he was an Azimio sympathiser, though with no fixed abode.
LVNWWDA is one of the nine water works development agencies established under the water Act 2016, legal notice No 28 of April 26 2019 amended with variations and modifications made through legal notice No 5 of February 4 2020 as part of the reforms which sought to improve governance and service provision in the water sector.
At KFCB, Wamalwa is said to be at loggerheads with almost every manager apart from Nelly Muluka the manager corporate communications. In private, the acting CEO says Muluka will take over from him once he lands the lucrative LVNWWDA portfolio.
Shalakha
At KFCB, Wamalwa has been at war with managers Pascal Opiyo, the acting chief manager corporate affairs, Vicky Ocharo manager HR and administration, Francis Nguthu the head internal audit, Loice Shalakha head of legal services and corporation secretary, Onesmus Muema head planning and research, Immaculate Mulaku, head, supply chain and Paul Mbui, the head of Nairobi Film Centre.
Weekly Citizen has information that Wamalwa is lobbying to land at the water agency to front a Chinese firm, China Number 10 Agencies to do a multibillion Kakamega, Bungoma bulk water project. He is the local agent of the Chinese firm. Already, an activist has threatened to go to court and block Wamalwa taking over on grounds of conflict of interest in the project. Wamalwa by last week, was in high spirits after he told friends that the LVNWWDA board was on his side and the interviews was just a formality.
LVNWWDA agency has Antony Kisaka as the acting CEO, George Odedeh chief officer technical services, Elizabeth Ngala corporation secretary and chief manager legal services, Tom Musungu acting chief manager corporate services, CPA Michael Wasike acting chief manager internal audit and risk management, Julius Nyang’or manager (ICT), CPA Fredrick Toloyi manager finance and accounts, Dickson Opiyo manager asset management, liason and utilities, CHRP Lonet Wasaba human resource and administration and James Ngugu AG manager infrastructure development.
Others are Joseph Magari acting manager supply chain management, Ibrahim Oluoch acting manager planning and strategy, Cecilia Syombua acting manager resource mobilisation and Dennis Mwangi acting manager design and planning.
The water agency CEO post was readvertised this year with a deadline for application then set for March 16 2023.
The lucrative Kakamega, Bungoma Bulk Water and Sanitation Project Wamalwa is eyeing targets to serve parts of Bungoma and Kakamega counties. It will originate from Webuye waterfalls then have water pumped to Chimoi Hills to use the force of gravity supplying parts of Kakamega, Mumias and Bungoma.
Feasibility studies are ongoing for the proposed Kakamega-Bulk Water and Sanitation Project with hydropower component that will have its source on Nzoia River.
Kiptarus
The project is proposed to have a capacity of 75,000m3/day with a hydropower of up to 40MW. It will be procured under the funding, design build model. The new LVNWWDA board is composed of John Imoite and directors are Samuel Kiptorus from National Treasury, Simon Korir, Khamisi Butich, Petronilla Were, Abraham Cheruiyot and Daniel Achach.
