The Department of Water Services in Turkana County is undertaking a countywide data collection initiative, to establish water needs, gaps, and access challenges.
These are among the requirements for qualifying for the Ksh 3.6 billion World Bank’s K-WASH project that aims to unlock water and sanitation access in rural and ASAL areas.
The funds will be disbursed through the Department of Water Services for use by the water department, public health and agencies dealing with refugees for camp interventions.
K-WASH is also a subset of the Kenya National Water and Sanitation Improvement Program (NAWASIP) focussed on attaining last-mile connectivity to clean and safe water and sanitation by the year 2030 for all Kenyans as envisioned by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
The preliminary funding requirement involves the submission of a detailed County Water Sanitation Strategy and Investment Plan (CWSSIP) document that clearly shows the needs, and the funding required to bridge the gap.
The projects and activities that can bridge this gap will be designed.
As the county allocates some funds to undertake these, the world will provide matching funds in a bigger proportion to accelerate access to water and sanitation.
While emphasising the importance of the data collection exercise, Chief Officer David Maraka noted,
“We are laying the groundwork for a well-informed report that highlights our water needs and challenges, an essential prerequisite for accessing the K-WASH funding,”
The County Focal person for the K-WASH project stressed the inclusivity of the data collection efforts.
“We are not only addressing general water needs but also focusing on specific requirements in refugee areas to align with the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the Kenya Refugee Act of 2021,” explained Engineer Ochieng.
Engineer Tito Ochieng further clarified that the sub-county water officers had been tasked to undertake the data collection exercise.
Sub-county teams collecting the data will furnish the office with information on; the functionality status of boreholes, the count of social amenity establishments, open defecation rates, specific constraints to water and sanitation access, and the functionality of the areas’ water supply utilities.
“The data collected will be merged with public health data and compiled by a consultant to develop a 5year plan for initial disbursement of 1M USD by the World Bank,” Engineer Tito Ochieng said.
It is expected that the funding will be disbursed in phases over the six-year implementation period running from 2024-2029.
The public health unit will also conduct a similar assessment to determine the needs and gaps with respect to Sanitation access.
The Ksh 3.6 billion in K-WASH funding could mark a turning point in the county’s water and sanitation landscape, providing a lifeline to communities in need of water and sanitation.
polycarp ochieng