Nairobi — Kenya loses between Sh4 billion and Sh9 billion annually due to forest and water catchment destruction.

Water Resources permanent secretary Mahboub Maalim said the waste was in form of government revenue, animal and crop production and employment creation.

The problem had been worsened by poor land use practices, rapid development of informal settlements and weak enforcement of laws.

In a speech read by his deputy, Mr John Mukuria, during a meeting on water reforms in Nairobi, Mr Maalim said the country's water per capita usage was bound to decline from about 640 cubic metres to 490 by 2015.

Engineer Mike Thomas said the Water Resource Management Authority could raise more than Sh265 million each year through water use charges.