The seven-member task force committee nominated in September this year, charged with the responsibility of developing a concept paper on strategies of improving water production within the county, today convened their first meeting at the Sunset Hotel in Kisumu.
The deliberations of the meeting focused on their key deliverable which is developing a concept paper highlighting the current, future and ultimate demands with clear strategies for meeting the same within a time frame of 60 days
The concept paper is to be shared with investment partners during the anticipated Investment Conference scheduled for 26th November 2021. The document should prioritize the long term and short-term activities and also identify the existing gaps within the water sector.
While chairing the meeting, the CECM for Environment, Water, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Mr. Salmon Orimba outlined seven strategies that the committee needs to consider as they develop the concept paper.
The strategies include: providing strategic directions for investment partners and interventions, highlight investment opportunities for the investors, depicting the growing population which resonates to the growing demand resulting into developing infrastructure that helps to achieve efficiency, the need to mitigate effects of climate change on water resources depletion and increasing pollution of lake water.
Further, consideration should also be made in ensuring equitable supply of water across the sub counties, identifying viable technology in water service provision and strategize on sustainable operations and management of water utilities within the county now that most water infrastructure have outlived their utility period.
The committee set a roadmap for their activities and scheduled weekly meetings to work within the timelines in coming up with a valid report. Other activities scheduled were drawing of a work plan, site visits, carrying out gap analysis within the county and projection of population, boundaries served and zoning of areas.
The task force committee comprises of Professor Norbert Aketch, (vice chairperson), Eng. Moses Jura (chairperson), Eng. Geoffrey Opiyo, Eng. Okuta Felix, Mr. Maurice Owino, Mr. Reginald Olang’, Madam Anne Kombija (Secretary).
By: Emily Mikwa
