Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation

ACCELERATING THE BOMET–LONGISA–MULOT WATER SUPPLY PROJECT
The Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir, CBD today chaired a management meeting for the Bomet–Longisa–Mulot Water Supply Project at the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency offices in Nakuru.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the contractor, the supervising consultant, and a representative of the pipeline supplier, to review progress and address critical implementation issues. The project is currently at 79% completion and is set to benefit over 300,000 residents upon its completion.

Deliberations focused on accelerating the remaining works to ensure timely delivery. It was resolved that the supply and delivery of pipes will be fast-tracked, with all materials expected to be on site before the end of June.

The Principal Secretary emphasized the need for enhanced contractor mobilization to increase the number of active work streams and expedite ex*****on. The supervising consultant was equally urged to ensure strict adherence to project timelines and timely delivery of key milestones.

Once complete, the project will significantly improve access to safe and reliable water in Bomet County and its environs, supporting socio-economic development and improving the quality of life for the beneficiary communities.

STRENGTHENING RESULTS-BASED PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE WATER AND SANITATION ACCESS
The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, accompanied by the Principal Secretary Julius Korir, today joined Governors from K-WASH participating counties for a strategic engagement meeting with the World Bank and other development partners.

The meeting underscored the transformative potential of the Kenya Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (K-WASH) Program—a results-based partnership between the National Government, County Governments, and Development Partners, anchored on a simple but powerful principle: resources are linked to results.

Through K-WASH, an impressive US$458 million has been mobilized to support counties and Water Service Providers in expanding access to water and sanitation services. This financing presents a significant opportunity, but one that must be earned through measurable performance and demonstrated impact.

In the first cycle, the program proved its effectiveness. Collectively, we unlocked over €22 million (KSh 3.4 billion), driven by tangible progress in planning, policy alignment, and institutional readiness laying a strong foundation for the next phase.

Beyond financing, K-WASH stands as a robust performance and accountability platform, empowering counties to strengthen service delivery, enhance governance, and accelerate progress toward universal access to safe water and sanitation.

𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗔 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in Kenya currently stands at approximately 44%, translating to over Ksh. 10 billion lost annually, resources that could otherwise be invested in asset renewal, expansion of pipeline networks, and strengthening sector financing.

The Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation, Julius Korir, CBS, in collaboration with Water and Sanitation Providers Association-WASPA-Kenya led by the CEO Anthony Njaramba this afternoon chaired a consultative meeting on the development of a National Water Loss Reduction Program aimed at tackling both technical and commercial losses across the sector.

Key discussions focused on strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks and accelerating the adoption of modern technologies to enhance efficiency. These include advanced leak detection systems, network verification and mapping, as well as the deployment of smart meters and improved billing systems.

The initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to improving operational efficiency, enhancing revenue collection, and ensuring sustainable delivery of water services to all Kenyans.

𝗘𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬
The Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation, Julius Korir, CBS, today chaired the monthly Heads of Departments meeting for the State Department.

The meeting provided a platform to review the progress of ongoing programmes and projects, with a focus on identifying and resolving bottlenecks that could hinder timely implementation.

Key issues discussed included productivity mainstreaming, emerging challenges related to the Rift Valley rising lakes, and change management within the sector.

The Principal Secretary emphasized the importance of efficiency, accountability, and proactive problem-solving to ensure that the Department delivers on its mandate and meets the expectations of citizens.

The State Department for Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Sanitation & Hygiene Fund (SHF), convened a Technical Working Session on the National Adoption of SANEMAT (Sanitation Market Maturity Assessment Tool) within the broader Inter-ministerial Data and Statistical Frameworks led by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

The Session focused on strengthening alignment between SANEMAT and National Statistical Systems, including discussions on Indicators Validation, Data Governance, Methodology, and Integration with existing sector monitoring Frameworks.

Following initial piloting and feedback from sector stakeholders, SANEMAT is being refined as a National Planning and Investment tool to support evidence-based Sanitation Planning, Market Assessment, and Investment Prioritization across the Country. The engagement with KNBS—the first of several planned engagements with Ministries and Sector Partners—marks an important step toward strengthening the credibility, institutionalization, and long-term sustainability of investments in the Non-Sewered Sanitation Sector.

The Technical Working Session Chaired by Director Sanitation Management, brought representatives from KNBS, WASREB, Sector Data Experts and the Planning Department. Kenya continues to advance Market-Based approaches to Safely Managed Sanitation.

𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦
The Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation, Julius Korir, CBS, today chaired the wrap-up meeting for the Implementation Support Mission of the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program and the Nairobi Rivers Basin Rehabilitation Program Sewerage Improvement Phase II (NaRSIP II), in partnership with the African Development Bank.

The meeting noted significant progress under the Kenya Towns Program, which is now 90% complete, with 32 projects already commissioned. Key issues discussed included the need to fast-track land compensation processes and enhance project sustainability, particularly through solarization of pumping schemes to reduce energy costs.

On the NaRSIP II, the project continues to play a critical role in restoring the Nairobi Rivers Basin including the Nairobi River, Ngong, Mathare, Kiu, Riara, and Gatharaini rivers by improving wastewater management in the city. The program aims to increase sewerage coverage from 48% to 60%, serve over 400,000 residents, and treat up to 80,000m³/day of wastewater, thereby significantly reducing pollution levels.

Overall implementation progress stands at 95.6%, up from 93.2% recorded in September 2025, reflecting steady advancement towards completion.

The Principal Secretary called on all implementing agencies to intensify coordination and undertake weekly monitoring of project activities to ensure timely completion ahead of the program closure in December 2026.

The engagement reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering sustainable water and sanitation solutions while restoring critical ecosystems for the benefit of all Kenyans.

This morning, the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eng. Eric Mugaa alongside the Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir, CBS held a productive meeting with H.E. Mr. Barlybay Sadykov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, who paid a courtesy call earlier this morning.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Kenya and Kazakhstan, with particular emphasis on collaboration in water resources management. Key areas of interest included knowledge exchange on sustainable water use, development of resilient water infrastructure, and adoption of innovative technologies to address shared challenges such as climate variability and water scarcity.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation and leverage their respective expertise to enhance water security and support sustainable development for their citizens.

Later in the afternoon PS for Irrigation CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, engaged with smallholder farmers and residents in Rurii Ward, Ol-Kalou Constituency, Nyandarua County, during a public participation forum on the Githunguri Cascading Water Pan Irrigation Project. The engagement provided an important platform for the community to deliberate on the progress, challenges, and future opportunities arising from the irrigation development initiative.

The community welcomed the project and emphasized the need for integration with other value chains to diversify farmers’ sources of income and enhance sustainability. Among the proposals raised were the introduction of fish farming within the dams, promotion of beekeeping, establishment of cold storage facilities for high-value horticultural produce, and improvement of last-mile connectivity to ensure irrigation water reaches more smallholder farmers. Residents also requested support for sporting activities and facilities to positively engage and empower the youth.

During the discussions, it was noted that irrigation development projects in the area have previously faced challenges including vandalism, wayleave disputes, and land acquisition issues that affected completion and operationalization of the dam infrastructure. The public participation exercise therefore aimed at sensitizing farmers and local residents on the benefits of the project, strengthening community ownership, and building collective support towards successful implementation and sustainability of the initiative.

In response, PS Kimotho assured residents that the Government of His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH, remains committed to unlocking the full socio-economic benefits of the project. Kimotho noted that the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries has committed to support the community through provision of fish fingerlings to promote aquaculture within the dams. PS further indicated that he will engage the County Government to support aggregation and market access for agricultural produce, while also consulting with the Principal Secretary for Sports to explore provision of sporting facilities for the youth.

The Government continues to prioritize inclusive irrigation development as a key driver of food security, employment creation, and improved livelihoods for communities across Nyandarua County and the country at large.

𝑷𝑼𝑩𝑳𝑰𝑪 𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑰𝑪𝑰𝑷𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑶𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑰𝑹𝑹𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑫𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑳𝑶𝑷𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑱𝑬𝑪𝑻 𝑨𝑻 𝑮𝑾𝑨 𝑲𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑮𝑶 𝑫𝑨𝑴 𝑰𝑵 𝑴𝑰𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑬 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑫, 𝑶𝑳-𝑲𝑨𝑳𝑶𝑼, 𝑵𝒀𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑼𝑨 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑻𝒀

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, today led officials from the State Department for Irrigation and the National Irrigation Authority in a public participation exercise on the proposed irrigation development project at Gwa Kiongo Dam in Mirangine Ward, Ol-Kalou, Nyandarua County. The public participation was attended by farmers, NGAO and County Government of Nyandarua County.

The dam, which was originally developed in the 1940s by the colonial government and later desilted in 2021 by the National Irrigation Authority, has a storage capacity of approximately 450,000 cubic metres of water, with the potential to irrigate over 1,000 acres of land.

Residents expressed their appreciation to the Government under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH, for prioritizing the rehabilitation and utilization of the dam, which is expected to provide irrigation water to the community for the first time as originally envisioned during its construction.

The community further noted that the dam has great potential to support the fish value chain as well as eco-tourism activities. They requested the Government to facilitate the development of an access road to the dam in order to promote sporting and recreational activities, including marathons and tourism related events. The residents also requested that a comprehensive safety assessment of the dam be undertaken.

Additionally, the community proposed that the irrigation design incorporates a solar-powered pumping system to enable water distribution to upstream farms through gravity flow, noting that the dam is located within a valley.

Speaking during the public participation forum, the PS Kimotho reiterated that the Government of His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH, remains committed to enhancing food security through irrigation development across the country, and confirmed that the dam has been prioritized for the development of an irrigation component.

The PS further assured residents that the State Department for Blue Economy has already prioritized the dam to support fisheries development and related economic activities. He added that engineers from the relevant agencies will assess the need for fencing and improvement of access roads to enhance safety and support sporting and recreational activities around the dam. He also noted that engagement with the Ministry of Tourism will be pursued to unlock the dam’s eco-tourism potential.

Further, the PS committed to engaging the State Department for Agriculture to ensure that farmers benefit from capacity building programmes, extension services, and access to quality farm inputs to maximize agricultural productivity.

He also assured the community that an Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA) will be established to strengthen community participation, management, and sustainability of the irrigation scheme for maximum socio economic benefits.