History and recent developments Water supply and sanitation in Kenya

1 history , recent developments

1.1 beginnings
1.2 colonial period
1.3 independent kenya (1963–1980)
1.4 transition period (1980–1992)
1.5 commercialization of local utilities
1.6 reorganisation of water institutions (2002–2011)
1.7 new water bill

history , recent developments

the history of water , sanitation sector in kenya characterised institutional fragmentation led numerous inefficiencies , subsequent attempts @ reform.

beginnings

the history of piped water supply in kenya can traced period of east african protectorate. @ time water supply focused on needs of colonial settlements. administration of water supply carried out hydraulic branch of public works department, started operating in coastal city of mombasa. construction of uganda railway in 1896 provided important impetus development of water pipelines in interior of country along railway line.

colonial period

between 1920 , independence in 1963 first attempts made @ regulating water supply in colony , protectorate of kenya, while responsibility shared many institutions. in 1950s , 60s, responsibility administration of water supply split between 3 institutions: ministry of works operating in urban centres centralised water service provision; local authorities deemed capable of managing water supply; , water development department, responsible developing new water supplies urban , rural centres. bulk water mombasa provided mombasa pipeline work, while day-to-day operations of water pipelines carried out water department. there no single framework administration , management of water. in 1952 water act cap 372 enacted, remained legal basis water sector until 2002.

a map of kenya.

in sanitation subsector there no functioning institutional framework either. officially, 1921 public health ordinance gave ministry of health role of administering sanitation, enforced. local population, moreover, reluctant adopt sanitary measures imposed colonial government. between 1929 , 1939 intense public health education campaigns carried out led diffusion of pit latrines.

by 1954 different types of sanitation in use in different parts of kenya: pit latrines in use in native reserves, bucket type latrines prevailed in towns while waterborne sanitation used in european quarters of major towns. during mau mau uprising africans concentrated in detention camps , local markets kept closed out of fear of rebellion. led neglect of adequate sanitation , in proliferation of communal latrines.

independent kenya (1963–1980)

as kenya gained independence in 1963, attempts @ simplifying administration of water supply resulted in transferral of organisations responsible water ministry of agriculture in 1964. distribution of responsibilities , authority was, however, unclear , led bottlenecks , inefficiencies. in 1965 government led jomo kenyatta stated in sessional paper no. 10 on african socialism , application planning in kenya government policy had directed towards eradication of poverty, illiteracy , disease.

this initiated period of active involvement in water policy government, based on principle water social either provided free of charge or subsidised. result, water tariffs between 1970 , 1981 heavily subsidised , in contradiction principle of operating cost recovery. throughout 1960s, environmental sanitation programme supported who-unicef carried out in kenya aims of developing water supplies small rural communities, improving waste disposal methods , providing sanitary education rural population.

the rural water supply schemes set part of programme operated county councils (under ministry of local government). in 1972 560 rural water supply schemes running in kenya , provided water population of 664,000, unicef reported. local communities started developing own water supplies , set water committees: received training design systems, hydraulic calculations, costs , submission methods. follow-up study unicef carried out in 1974 showed many problems affected these projects.

in 1970 government of kenya signed credit agreement sweden finance rural water supply development. provide study of water situation in country. study, completed in 1973, showed in kenya there major lack in senior , technical staff; while donors provide development funds, current expenditure not covered local funds , government lacked long term plan of water supply development. in response, fledged ministry of water resources management , development created in 1974. ministry took on government operated water schemes operated county councils. in same year national water master plan initiative launched. primary aim develop new water supply schemes , secure access potable water within reasonable distance kenyans. initiative bore slogan, “water year 2000.”

transition period (1980–1992)

in 1980s, government began experiencing budget constraints put strain on ambitious projects of providing universal access safe water , expanding water , sewerage systems. priority given rehabilitation of existing schemes , construction of large-scale water projects such baricho , kilimanjaro water schemes. in 1980 national sanitation council established sensitise population health benefits of sanitation , advise , guide local authorities on matter. council faded without accomplishing mandate.

in 1983 water use study carried out sida confirmed situation unsustainable , suggested decentralisation , removing operation , maintenance responsibilities ministry. improve performance , efficiency , reduce financial burden of water sector, in june 1988 national water conservation , pipeline corporation (nwcpc) established. role operate water supply systems under state control on commercial basis.

commercialization of local utilities

but centralised approach failed achieve improvements. idea of creating local-government owned commercial utilities emerged. second national water master plan formulated in 1992, , new policy approach emphasising decentralisation , demand-driven approach discussed @ national level. city of eldoret went ahead in 1994 , set water , sewer department finances separate municipal budget. utility s board includes representatives of ngos, women s organisations, chamber of commerce , industry , kenya consumer organization. commercialisation of utility in eldoret in nyeri , kericho supported german development co-operation.

the approach formalised ministry of local government, through companies act cap. 486 of 1996 allowed establishment of publicly owned, commercially run water , sanitation companies. of 2002, approach had led significant improvements in terms of reduced of non-revenue water, improved bill collection , fewer complaints in nyeri , eldoret. however, other local water companies in kitale , nakuru had taken on again national government due financial problems.

in 1999, first national policy of water resources management , development published. policy stated government hand on urban water systems autonomous departments within local authorities, , rural water supply communities. provision of document placing water , sanitation services under single utilities. while developing national water policy, government established national task force review water act, cap 372, , draft amendments result in complete overhaul of sector.

reorganisation of water institutions (2002–2011)

the current legal framework kenyan water , sanitation sector based on water act no. 8 of 2002 became effective in march 2003. 2002 water act introduced far-reaching reforms based on following principles:

the separation of management of water resources provision of water services;
the separation of policy making day-to-day administration , regulation;
decentralisation of functions lower level state organs;
the involvement of non-government entities in management of water resources , in provision of water services.

the implementation of these principles triggered wide-ranging restructuring of sector , led creation of new institutions. water sector reform secretariat (wsrs) formed transitional unit in ministry of water , irrigation oversee formation of new water sector institutions. in 2004, water services trust fund (wstf) established provide financial assistance towards capital investment costs in areas lacking adequate services (usually inhabited poor). transfer plan devised in 2005 (through legal notice no. 101 of 12 august 2005) direct transfer of staff , assets central government newly founded water services boards , water service providers (for detailed role descriptions see next paragraph).

to guide implementation of water act, draft national water services strategy (nwss) years 2007–2015 formulated in june 2007. mission realise goals of mdg declaration , vision 2030 of kenyan government concerning access safe , affordable water , basic sanitation responsive institutions within regime of well-defined standards , regulation. nwss based on identification of sustainable access safe water , basic sanitation human right , economic good. among core commitments are: cost recovery water service providers ensure sustainable water , sanitation , formalisation of service provision. in addition, mwi elaborated pro-poor implementation plans.

in 2010 kenya adopted new constitution enshrines human right water , sanitation in article 43(1). specifically, states every person has right accessible , adequate housing , reasonable standards of sanitation , right clean , safe water in adequate quantities .

new water bill

a new water bill passed in 2015. bill transforms 8 water service boards (asset holding companies) 47 water works development boards in each county of kenya. in line decentralisation prescribed in 2010 constitution of kenya. also, national water conservation , pipeline corporation became national water storage authority, water services regulatory board became water services regulatory commission , water services trust fund became water sector trust authority. bill meant improved version of water act of 2002, rather fundamental reform of sector. bill - under discussion since 2012 - passed parliament water bill, 2014 (bill no. 7 of 2014) on july 7th, 2015.