The Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation is working with private investors in efforts to increase the storage capacity of water through the construction of 100 large dams across the country.
Cabinet Secretary (CS), Alice Wahome, said that the government is working through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in order to mobilize additional resources for investment in the sector.
‘Kenya has seven large dams with stored water for electricity production. Another 99 medium non-hydroelectric dams and over 3,000 small dams and water pans are used for domestic and irrigation purposes,’ she said.
The CS said that the Constitution guarantees Kenyans the right to reasonable standards of sanitation and clean, safe water in adequate quantities, which contributes to adequate food of acceptable quality through irrigation.
According to the CS, the Ministry is seeking ways to implement the water and irrigation services while leveraging different resources, expertise, and technology.
She said the government has invited the private sector into the water and irrigation services for enhanced results and a good human cause.
‘The Ministry will fully mobilize the strength of the private sector in water and irrigation services, which will allow water sector agencies and authorities to be licensed as bulk water service providers and to sign Water Purchase Agreements (WPAs) with the private investment partners, which will increase the private investor confidence that cushions them from the complexity of dealing with downstream water service providers,’ said Wahome.
Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Kiprono Ronoh, announced that the government has launched the water harvesting and storage programme, which allows access to reliable water supplies for irrigation and potable uses.
Source: Kenya News Agency
