Stakeholders in the water sector have convened in Busia Town with the main objective of developing a roadmap on how to manage the rural water supply schemes.

The two-day training workshop is organized by the Kenya Water and Sanitation Network (KEWASNET) in partnership with the County Government of Busia.

The roadmap will lead to professionalization in management of rural water schemes while ensuring that investment are sustainable; it also seeks to make Busia improve its urban water coverage that currently stands at 35 per cent to acceptable universal coverage of 100pc by 2030.

Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) has developed guidelines for provision of water and sanitation services in rural areas and underserved areas in Kenya.

Addressing stakeholders via zoom, WASREB Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Richard Cheruiyot said the guidelines were established with the aim of ensuring water service standards are adhered to in terms of quality, cost and customer service in order to guarantee health and safety of customers.

“Busia County has no option but to strive and attain the universal access to water target of 100pc by 2030; this is no longer by default, we must get to the target by developing a roadmap in implementation of these guidelines,” he said.
Chief Officer Water and Irrigation (Upper Region), Hellen Mukanda said governance of most water projects was weak, thus the need to include the component of water governance in future budgets.
Acting Director Water Services, Juma Mulika said the county has over 1000 boreholes but lack of proper management systems had impacted negatively on provision of water to the rural folks, noting that the development of a roadmap will solve this teething challenge.

Photo: Busia County Chief Officer Water and Irrigation (Upper Region) Hellen Mukanda and Ag. Director Water Services Juma Mulika follow proceedings via zoom.

- WASREB Director Monitoring and Enforcement Richard Cheruiyot gives his communique to stakeholders via zoom.

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