GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 9779

PURSUANT to article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and section 30 (2) (l) as read together with section 31 of the County Governments Act, 2012, it is notified for general public information that the Governor of the Machakos County has established a Machakos County Government Water and Sanitation Restructuring Taskforce. The purpose of the Taskforce is to undertake comprehensive review of all the six public water service providers, to assess, develop and implement strategies to improve water management and ensure sustainable water supply and sanitation services within Machakos County while overseeing the restructuring and reorganization of the six water service providers within Machakos County so as to fully be owned by the County Government as at the date of the establishment of the Taskforce. The Taskforce shall consist of — Name Title Francis Maliti (Eng.) Chairperson Paul Museku Member Prof. Charles Kaloki Member Itwiku Mbai Member Erick Wamiti Member Peter Otheng’o Member Shadrack Muya Member Rita Kaloki Member Tabitha Ngutu Member Maureen Bosibori Member The Taskforce shall, prior to embarking on its duties, subscribe to such oath of confidentiality and such other oaths, as may be prescribed. The Terms of Reference of the Taskforce are to: (a) Review and restructure all the six public water service providers in the County. (b) Identify and document the current state of the water service providers including governance structures, commercial viability, operational challenges, risk management strategies and compliance with relevant policy, legal and regulatory provisions. (c) Develop a comprehensive roadmap for the review and restructuring of the Water and sanitation companies incorporating timelines, responsibilities and deliverables. (d) Identify specific services or functions to be focused on during the restructuring, such as water supply, sanitation management and infrastructure development. (e) Identify and address potential risks, challenges, or obstacles that may arise during the restructuring process. (f) Engage with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, water service providers, consumer groups and industry experts. (g) Co-ordinate and facilitate regular meetings, workshops and consultations with stakeholders including public participation to gather input and ensure effective communication. (h) Establish working groups or subcommittees to address specific aspects of the restructuring process, such as legal and regulatory, human resource, financial and operational matters. (i) Assess and map out all the current assets and liabilities of the water service providers. (j) Supervise the Transfer of all the assets from Tanathi Water Works Development Agency to the County Government of Machakos. (k) Continuously monitor and evaluate the implementation key activities. (l) Draft the Machakos County Water and Sanitation Bill. (m) Develop Machakos County Water and Sanitation Master Plan; and (n) Recommend strategies to ensure sustainable water and sanitation management within the County. In the performance of its functions, the Taskforce— (a) shall be properly constituted for purpose of transacting its business with five members present to form the quorum; (b) shall be required to maintain strict confidentiality and shall execute a confidentiality Agreement; (c) shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could compromise the integrity of the restructuring process; (d) shall hold such number of meetings at such places and such times as the Taskforce shall consider necessary for the proper discharge of its mandate; (e) may request for documentation and any other material or information required in the discharge of its mandate, from any officer or official in the county government of Machakos and the water service providers; (f) shall have access to all reports relevant to its mandate; (g) shall, as it considers appropriate, carry out or cause to be carried out such studies or research as may inform the Taskforce on its mandate; (h) shall undertake field assessments and investigations; (i) shall conduct public hearings and receive representations, memoranda and petition from the public; 3204 3204 (j) shall submit reports to the Governor upon request; (k) shall have adequate resources including funding, staff, technical expertise and administrative support; and (l) subject to the foregoing, the Taskforce and the secretariat that shall be established by the task force shall have all the independence necessary for carrying out its functions and for the proper execution of its mandate, including the power to regulate its own procedure without being the subject of control by any other authority. The Taskforce shall— (a) within (6) six months (or such longer period that the Governor may authorize) submit to the Governor a report with appropriate recommendations; (b) address all its communication through the Chairperson of the Taskforce; (c) submit as appropriate, interim reports to the Governor as the Taskforce may deem fit and necessary or as the need arises; (d) in consultation with the Governor, have the power to co-opt other technical expertise, as it deems fit only for specialized aspects of its terms of reference; and (e) amend or revise the Terms of Reference if deemed necessary with the approval of the Governor. The Secretariat of the Taskforce The Secretariat of the Taskforce, once established, shall be responsible to the Taskforce for— (a) providing appropriate background briefing to the Taskforce; (b) preparing the Taskforce’s reports and disseminating any information deemed relevant to the Taskforce; (c) undertaking research and liaising with the relevant Machakos County Government Departments and any other institution in order to gather relevant information necessary for informing the Taskforce; and (d) policy interpretation, developing and implementing the programs and activities of the Taskforce; These appointments take effect from the date of this notice. Remuneration The remuneration of members of the Taskforce and Secretariat shall be as the applicable Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s guidelines contained in the relevant Circulars. Dated 26th July, 2023. WAVINYA NDETI, MR/5150449 Governor, Machakos County.