The Water Dialogue

Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya

Introduction and Context:

Associations play an important role as the represent their members and lobby towards the governmental

organizations and authorities but on the other hand on the implementation of services, capacity building and financial

sustainability.

Water Service Providers Association

WASPA membership is made up of 58 utilities, 2 students and 1 supplier. The aim of the association is to facilitate

learning, enhance lobbying and consolidate knowledge among members. The association also lobbies the government

on behalf of the utilities.

Challenges:

High consuming government institutions such as prisons and hospitals do not pay bills

Corporate tax: The association is lobbying for the elimination of this tax as some WSPs cannot afford it

High electricity tariffs: This is being managed by the energy audits.

Conflicts in the management of resources. For example having Mombasa pay Voi/ Taveta for their water

Finance: The association only has half the WSPs present in the country in their membership. The

membership fee of 50,000KES is too high for some WSPs. Most of the money collected is a combination

from the WASPAs partners and members’ fee.

Strengthening Water Associations Partnership

WASPA and KWIA have been working together to improve their capacities with the financial help of Germany’s

Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through the SWAP-bfz project.

The associations talk together, share together and lobby together. With strong CEOs, they have the potential of being

a strong voice in the water sector.

Water Utilities are not only there to provide water but also protect the water. With increasing populations, we cannot

generate more water but can reduce the current losses.

Recommendations:

Energy Audits: High energy costs by WSPs have been a threat to water services provision. Together with

Kenya Association of Manufacturers’ and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, energy audits

were conducted in 29 WSPs and recommendations such as tariff transfer and use of suitable renewable

energy alternatives enabled WSPs such as Thika Water and Sewerage Company to save more than 2 million

KES after implementation of some of these suggestions

GIS-WASH: To reduce Non Revenue Water (NRW) a fully mapped GIS mapped water utility was installed

in Kericho with leak detection capabilities and delivers more accurate data. The data revealed that the WSP

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The Water Dialogue

Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya

was losing 80% which is 20% higher than what the WSP thought they were losing. After the

installation of this GIS system, the WSP has reduced its losses to 37%.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. Does SWAP-bfz do any capacity building for the youth?

The capacity building is specifically for the associations. However, SWAP-bfz recognizes the youth and the

roles that they play and supported the ongoing Young Water Professionals conference and had a session on

sharing with the youth on ‘Enhancing Water Resources and Energy Management’

Q. What is the structure of the Kenyan institutional framework and what is the comparison with the

frameworks in other countries?

Kenya is highly dependent on the Water Act (2002) which was developed by GIZ who had a number of

Zambian consultants. The act therefore has a lot borrowed from the Zambian framework. The institutional

framework in place isn’t affecting the WSPs but with devolution following the Constitution 2010, the Water

Act 2002 is disregarded and the WSPs experience challenges as some county governments plan to directly

supply water. For example in Machakos county, the governor has bought rigs and plans to start drilling

boreholes, with no experience.

Q. Can parastatals be privatised with funding from investors?

Article 43 (1b): Water is a basic human right therefore water cannot be privatized. It is owned by the public

but run privately.

Q. What role does WASPA play in water conservation?

Every WSP pays a levy for abstraction to WRMA and NEMA that is directed to conservation as anything

done by WRMA at the catchment level affects WSPs. Also, every WSP is also a member of the WRUA and

this is beneficial for data collection.

Q. Do the locals know about WASPA when sharing information?

The association does not work at the grassroot level but the members (WSPs) do.

Q. What is WASPA’s strategy?

Water provision has a good track but water sanitation and waste water treatment (e.g recycling wastewater

for industrial purposes) need development. These will be developed using both the top down and bottom up

approach.

Q. What causes bill fluctuations?

Different utilities have different tariffs. This is because of varying operating costs

Q. Does WASPA intend to reach out to other academic institutions other than University of Nairobi?

The Water Dialogue

Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya

Yes. Although student membership was initially not there, WASPA has reached out to 3

academic institutions. Student membership was not included initially but the youth will eventually be

involved. This is to be included in the strategic plan.

Also, WASPA is developing short and long courses on drilling and water utilities with the Kenya Water

Institute.

Conclusion:

Associations play a key role in not only lobbying for relevant plans and policies, they also set the standards to ensure

efficiency in the sector.