A launch workshop for the new Bank-financed Kenya National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Program (NUWSSP) has recently concluded, paving way for the implementation of this national programme set to impact the lives of millions.
Held in Nairobi from 8-10 April, the workshop brought together dozens of staff from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation along with project management staff from the 13 county implementing water agencies for an orientation on the Bank's fiduciary, environmental and safeguards, gender, monitoring and evaluation, and project management rules and guidelines. Participants also engaged in knowledge-sharing discussions.
Presenting a keynote address on behalf of the Bank's Director General for East Africa, Christopher Mutasa, Lead Investments and Operations Officer, outlined that the project will target 21 towns across 16 counties in Kenya, benefiting approximately 1.4 million people with improved access to water supply. A further 500,000 people will gain access to improved and safe sanitation services.
"This project demonstrates the Bank's continued commitment to supporting the Government of Kenya's development agenda, particularly in advancing the SDG 6 targets, Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," he said. Vision 2030 is the country's long-term development blueprint and BETA is Kenya's development strategy focused on inclusive economic growth.
Mutasa urged the implementing agencies to strengthen national coordination, ensure compliance with Bank procedures, and accelerate project implementation to achieve the intended impact by the project's completion in 2029.
Julius Korir, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Water and Sanitation, officially opened the launch workshop and commended the Bank for its support, describing it as the water sector's "preferred partner." He pointed out that successful implementation of the NUWSSP would depend on strong implementation systems, which was the workshop's core focus. "This workshop is where you will acquire the knowledge and skills required for successful delivery of the project," he stated.
According to Samwel Alima, the Water Secretary at the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, NUWSSP marks a significant step toward strengthening urban water and sanitation infrastructure, enhancing service reliability, and advancing sustainable development in Kenya's rapidly growing urban centres. The project is expected to increase water supply capacity by 33,600 m³ per day and expand wastewater treatment by 19,300 m³ per day, thereby supporting more reliable service delivery.
The NUWSSP launch workshop was jointly convened by the Bank Group and the Kenya government and was facilitated by the Bank's Water Supply and Sanitation Officers, Lazarus Phiri and Caroline Adhiambo.
The Bank Group's investments in Kenya's water sector amounts to just over $ 1 billion, or roughly 27% percent of its total portfolio.
