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Water supply and sanitation in Kenya

Water supply and sanitation in Kenya
The flag of Kenya
Data
Water coverage (broad definition)(improved water source) 63% (JMP 2015)[1] 37% (WASREB)[2]
Sanitation coverage (broad definition)(improved sanitation) 30% (JMP 2015)[1] 50% (WASREB)[2]
Continuity of supply18 hours on average[3]
Average urban water use (L/person/day)not available
Average urban water and sanitation tariff (US$/m3)53 (July 2016)
Share of household metering89%[4]
Annual investment in WSSKSh.12 billion/= in 2013–14 (US$120 million), corresponding to less than US$3/capita/year[5]
Share of self-financing by utilitiesaround 11%[6]
Share of tax-financing58%[6]
Share of external financing31%[6]
Institutions
Decentralization to municipalitiesyes, since 2003
Water and sanitation regulatorWater Services Regulatory Commission
Responsibility for policy settingMinistry of Water and Irrigation (water supply), Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (sanitation)
Sector law2014 Water Bill No.14
No. of urban service providers91 (2015)[7]

Water supply and sanitation in Kenya is characterised by low levels of access to water and sanitation, in particular in urban slums and in rural areas, as well as poor service quality in the form of intermittent water supply.[8] Seasonal and regional water scarcity in Kenya exacerbates the difficulty to improve water supply.

The Kenyan water sector underwent far-reaching reforms through the Water Act No. 8 of 2002. Previously service provision had been the responsibility of a single National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation as well as of a few local utilities established since 1996. After the passage of the act service provision was gradually decentralised to 91 local Water Service Providers (WSPs). These were linked to 8 regional Water Services Boards (WSBs) in charge of asset management through Service Provision Agreements (SPAs) with the WSPs. The Act also created a national regulatory board that carries out performance benchmarking and is in charge of approving SPAs and tariff adjustments. With the Water Bill, 2014, the functions of the 8 WSBs were transferred to 47 Water Works Development Boards in each county of Kenya.

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation remains in charge of policies for water supply, while the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation is in charge of policies for sanitation.

Although urban water tariffs are high by regional standards (KSh.60/= or US$0.60 per m3 on average in 2014), these tariffs only allow the recovery of operating costs, but not the recovery of capital costs. Full cost recovery is not achieved due to various reasons, including a high level of non-revenue water (average of 42%). Based on the unit cost of production, the nationwide losses due to non-revenue water in 2014 were estimated at KSh.5.2 billion/=, equivalent to US$52 million.[4] Another reason is the need to tap distant water sources at a high cost in some locations. For example, Mombasa is supplied from a source located 220 km from the city. Although 16% of Kenyans in urban areas have access to sewerage, there is no sewerage levy in Kenya, making this expensive service essentially free of charge.

  1. ^ a b WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation Archived 30 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on 14 December 2015
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference impact1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Impact: A Performance Review of Kenya's Water Services Sector 2013 – 2014". Water Services Regulatory Board. August 2015. p. 32. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Impact 2015 Efficiency was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Impact Investment was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference review7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Impact: A Performance Review of Kenya's Water Services Sector 2013 – 2014". Water Services Regulatory Board. August 2015. p. 20. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  8. ^ Water Service Quality – WASREB Impact Report 2009, pp.27–31. Retrieved 10 March 2010

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