Governors to push for water reforms

Governors will push for change in policies and management of the water sector. Speaking during a workshop facilitated by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi asked the national government to cooperate with devolved units on sustainable reforms and solutions to the water sector in the counties.

"The performance of this sector is constrained by internal and external factors that include inefficient policy and regulations, inadequate capacity for sustainable management, limited public investment and environmental challenges like climate change and limited value addition," Cheboi said at the event attended by county officers in charge of water, irrigation and natural resource management.

Discussants agreed to a raft of reforms including strengthening advocacy programmes and existing systems to enhance efficient resource allocation. The workshop was also informed of need to initiate strategic plans and for counties to liaise closely with Public Private Partnership unit for guidance.

They also agreed to work closely with the Council of Governors (GOG) in pushing for relevant legislation in the sector.

"The Constitution spells out, among other provisions that water is vested in the people, water supply and sanitation services is a right, and environmental conservation as well as county public works and water and sanitation services provision including storm water management is the function of the County Governments," he added.

The committee has been analysing bills currently before Parliament including the Climate Change Bill 2014; The Water Bill 2014, the National Environmental Policy 2013, the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution Bill 2014 among others.