By: Emily Mikwa
A raft of resolutions and action plans were outlined by the stakeholders charting the way forward in fast tracking the completion and ratifying of the county water bill as curtains came down on the two- day County Draft Review workshop In Nakuru.
A panelist of eminent persons comprising of the County Assembly Speaker, CECM Environment, Water, Natural Resources and Climate Change, County Attorney, the County Assembly Budget Chair, the Chairperson water Committee and KIWASCO representative led the participants in making the resolutions with the moderator Mr. Richard Cheruiyot from WASREB
Some of the resolutions included: having constant engagement with all the stakeholders in the water sector to realize proper water service provision within Kisumu County.
Ensuring effective and efficient service delivery to the people by both the County Assembly and the Executive through a well-planned legal framework coupled with symbiotic relations and consultative engagements.
Embracing an integrated approach towards development where all people are brought on board through continuous engagement with county stakeholders.
The County Assembly Committees tasked to strengthen their oversight role with constant engagement with all actors.
The county department for Water is committed to strengthen and accelerate engagement with all stakeholders to ensure water service provision through supervision, monitoring and capacity building of rural water schemes.
An appeal was made to the water sector by the chairperson budget Committee to produce results that can attract more resource allocation by availing their plans to the county assembly and having more engagement on policies.
Kisumu County Water Bill Action Plan
The Stakeholders drew up a take home action plan as a commitment to meet their part of the bargain in the shortest time as follows
The County Assembly committed to follow up on the policies and proposed bill, engage on procurement plan and review the budget implementation of 2020/21 within a month.
The County water department will review the task force report, fast track development of policy papers, engage the budget committee and network with other partners,
The County attorney’s office has pledged to fast track the legislation process.
KIWASCO on its part promised to carry out timely payment of power bills for rural utilities, create a What’s Up group for all stakeholders, and escalate DDM to rural utilities.
The KMT representative, Mr Patrick Omondi thanked the participants for the fruitful engagement and challenged them to envisage the rapid growth of Kisumu as an investor destination with adequate water supply and promised support for Kisumu County to have a water bill.
The Chief Officer, Maryline Agwa commended the participants for their positive comments on the water bill, applauding WASREB for the guidelines on regulations and for charting the way forward, not forgetting KMT (partners) for their financial support towards delivering a good bill.
While officially closing the workshop, the County Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Kenneth Onyango Odhiambo thanked the participants for their robust deliberations. He pledged the Assembly’s commitment to passing the legislation. He however challenged the Executive to ensure its implementation once ratified.
With the anticipated industrial Park under the Special Economic Zone in Muhoroni he urged the concerned parties to move expeditiously to finalize the bill to ensure adequate water provision for the park and the county as a whole.
