Nairobi county will next year host the prestigious IWA 3rd Development Congress under the International Water Association. The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company recently emerged the 'preferred bidder' in the competition that will see stakeholders in the water sector meet at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in November next year.

Nairobi defeated Morocco and South Africa to host the congress under the submission by the Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company with the support of Water Services Providers Association.

According to Nairobi Water's Mbaruku Vyakweli, the commitment to host the event is with an intention to ensure visibility on the regional and international platform within the water sector and to support a forum that will form a basis to expose the challenges and milestones within the water sector with a view to learn and share best practices. The International Water Association is an organization which aims to cover all facets of the water cycle.

The body has its headquarters in London, with a global secretariat based in The Hague and offices in Beijing, Bucharest, Nairobi, Singapore and Washington DC. IWA held the 2nd Development Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2011 and the 1st Development Congress in Mexico in November 2009.

IWA annually hosts more than 40 specialist conferences and workshops on various aspects of water management. WASPA and NCWSC have experience in hosting conferences. WASPA held its first annual conference in September 2011 with participants drawn from the government, NGOs, development partners, international organizations, water sector institutions, and suppliers amongst others.

NCWSC hosted the IWA 1st African Regional Water Safety Plan Conference between May 24 to 26, 2011 with delegates drawn from local water sector players, the Africa regional water sector service providers, Government, NGOs and key players.