By Matilda Atieno
A two-day meeting, organised by the County Department of Water, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and VEI-Dutch water operators, concluded with a renewed and strengthened commitment to the county’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) future.
The gathering graced by the CECM for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources Ms. Judith Oluoch, brought together diverse stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive review of the sector’s achievements, confront persistent challenges, and lay down clear actions for solidifying partnerships and policy frameworks specific to Kisumu.
The forum focused on the performance of the broader WASH sector, including its coordinating body (WASH-NECC) and partners, revealing both significant milestones and areas demanding urgent intervention.
The meeting began by highlighting Key achievements that underscore Kisumu dedication to improving Water, public health and environmental well-being including, expanded access to safe and clean water, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas through targeted initiatives and infrastructure development, Hygiene Promotion through the successful community-led hygiene campaigns, often in collaboration with partners have significantly boosted awareness and adoption of critical hygiene practices within households and schools, Climate Change Integration achieved commendable strides in integrating climate change considerations into water resource management, recognizing the vulnerability of its lake basin resources to shifting weather patterns that includes early warning systems for floods and drought preparedness and Policy Advancement in developing foundational policies and regulations aimed at guiding sustainable water use and environmental protection within its jurisdiction.
Despite the celebrated successes, the meeting candidly addressed the persistent Gaps and Challenges that continue to hinder universal WASH access and long-term sustainability which included, Funding Deficits that remain a primary obstacle, limiting the scale and speed of essential infrastructure development and maintenance across the County, Providing sustainable and regulated WASH services to Kisumu rapidly growing informal settlements continues to be a major challenge, often exacerbated by land tenure issues and complex governance, Water Quality Threats such as Pollution of Lake Victoria and other water sources from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and inadequate wastewater management poses significant threats to water quality and public health, Behavioral Change Sustainability through ensuring long-term, consistent behavioral change and infrastructure upkeep at the community level remains a challenge and Enforcement Weaknesses: Gaps in the enforcement of existing environmental and water regulations contribute to pollution and unsustainable practices.
The meeting charted key actions towards strengthening collaborations and partnerships, alongside refining Water policy and regulations specifically for Kisumu. The recommendations included enhanced Partnerships for Financing to actively seek out and formalize diverse partnerships with the private sector to bridge the funding gap for WASH initiatives and climate adaptation projects. The Red Cross emphasized its role in emergency response and building community resilience, commitment to a robust regulatory framework to fast-track the finalization, domestication, and rigorous enforcement of County-specific water policies and regulations, this includes developing clear guidelines for water abstraction, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management to protect the county’s vital water resources.
The Department of Water, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources emphasized the need for community-based climate adaptation strategies that integrate traditional knowledge with scientific approaches to build resilience against floods and droughts as well as a call for continuous capacity building for Water Service Providers (WSPs), local communities, and relevant county staff in areas of technology adoption, non-revenue water reduction, and innovative sanitation solutions, especially for challenging urban informal settings and strengthening the WASH-NECC platform was identified as crucial for improving coordination, data sharing, and joint planning among all stakeholders, ensuring a cohesive approach to Kisumu’s WASH and climate goals.
The forum also welcomed new development partners in the water and environment sector, who joined the WASH-NECC fraternity. The two-day meeting concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear roadmap. By leveraging strong partnerships and firm policy action, Kisumu is poised to overcome its WASH challenges and secure a more resilient and healthier future for all its residents. Kenya Red Cross Society