Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki

The government has announced plans set up a new police unit to protect national water management and supply resources, which have since been gazetted as ’critical infrastructure’ to avoid vandalism.

The announcement to set up the Water Police Unit (WPU) of the Administration police, was made by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki will be gazetted as critical infrastructure to facilitate their enhanced protection.

The Water Police Unit (WPU) will be mainly tasked with securing assets and other resources for the Ministry of Water while responding to “emerging security dynamics”.

The unit’s formation comes in the wake of a revelation by the Ministry of Water that up to Sh10.6 billion is lost annually on non-revenue water mostly due to vandalism, illegal connections, and corruption.

The ministry of interior has revealed that the government loses close to KES 10.6 billion annually due to vandalism and theft of water supply/sanitation infrastructure as well as illegal pipeline connections. 

Illegal connection of water is a criminal offence that may lead to imprisonment or attract a fine as stipulated by the Water Act 2016.

Illegal water connection generally entails having access to water services without a duly acquired water connection and not paying for the services as required by law.

Illegal water connection for commercial, industrial or construction sites attracts a fine of Kshs 100,000 plus the estimated consumption during the entire period of the illegality.

The offence can also attract a jail term of two years or both (payment of the fine plus jail term).

Illegal water connection for commercial, industrial or construction sites attracts a fine of Kshs 100,000 plus the estimated consumption during the entire period of the illegality.

The offence can also attract a jail term of two years or both (payment of the fine plus jail term).