Kenya launches new road map toward water security

Kenya on Monday launched a new blue print to hasten attainment of universal access to clean drinking water.

Cabinet Secretary for Water and Irrigation Eugene Wamalwa said the national government will focus on new business models alongside policy reforms to bridge a significant water access gap that bode ill for Kenya's socio-economic development.

Kenya ranks among Sub-Saharan African countries that have developed robust polices and legislation to stimulate investments in the water sector.

Wamalwa said the private investor has supplemented the state's efforts to expand water supply infrastructure in major cities and rural towns.

"Our new road map for transforming the water sector underscore the role of public-private sector partnership to develop new infrastructure and ensure the commodity is available to all households," said Wamalwa.

"Other areas we are focusing on includes waste water recycling, desalination and drilling of boreholes to achieve water security in the near future," Wamalwa said.

Rapid population growth, climatic stress and governance lapses are believed to have derailed progress towards achieving universal access to safe drinking water in Kenya.

Patrick Mwangi, principal secretary in the ministry of water and irrigation, noted that rising water demands occasioned by industrialization has exerted pressure on the resource.

"Agriculture alone is taking up more than 70 percent of surface and ground water resources in the country. Other competing demands like industry and energy sectors bodes ill for water security," Mwangi said. Endit