Governors call for water management reforms in counties
Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi at a past event. MPs were on October 21, 2015 put on the spot for passing a Bill that seeks to cut governors’ powers in the management of water. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Governors want policies on water management in the counties changed.
The chair of Council of Governors Water, Natural Resources and Mining committee Mr Benjamin Cheboi said reforms on the water policies will improve water supply and sanitation.
Mr Cheboi, who is Baringo County Governor called for cooperation between the national and county governments to bring sustainable reforms to the water sector.
“The performance of this sector is constrained by both internal and external factors that include inefficient policy and regulations,” he said during a workshop facilitated by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) at a Nairobi hotel Tuesday.
He said the sector was also affected by inadequate capacity for sustainable management, limited public investment and environmental challenges like climate change.
“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 said.
He said continued involvement of the development partners is an aspect that “we must all consider up scaling if we have to bridge the growing demand in the water sector.”
Those attending the forum agreed to a raft of reforms including strengthening advocacy programmes and existing systems to enhance resource allocation in the sector.
