Policies and strategies
- The Government of Kenya has embarked on the implementation of a comprehensive reform programme aimed at better management of water resources, improving access to water and sanitation services, enhancing accountability and decentralizing provision of services. The legal framework guiding the implementation of these reforms is the Water Act 2002 (Part 1; Part 2), which was enacted in 2002 and became effective in March 2003.
- To guide implementation of the Water Act, the National Water Services Strategy (NWSS) and the Pro-Poor Implementation Plan for Water Supply and Sanitation (PPIP-WSS) for the period 2007-2015 spell out the overall framework for how to ensure water supply and sanitation throughout the country, and identify both broad and specific objectives with regard to quantity, quality and the timeline of reaching the MDG water target.
- In 2007, the National Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Policy (ESHP) was launched with the vision to improve hygiene and environmental sanitation in Kenya. As a contribution towards meeting the MDGs, the ESHP inter alia aims to ensure that, by 2015, every household is educated and aware of the importance and need for improved hygienic behaviours and environmental sanitation. 90 per cent of households, all schools, institutions, markets and other public places are expected to have access to and make use of hygienic, affordable, functional and sustainable toilet and hand washing facilities.
- The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Strategic Plan for 2008-2012 aims to increase sanitation coverage from 46 per cent to 66 per cent.
- The development of the National Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy together with guidelines is ongoing and is sought to be finalized in 2010.
Institutions
- The new Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation was created in 2008 and its Division of Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion is responsible for all aspects of sanitation and hygiene at the national level. At the district level, District Public Health Officers take lead on hygiene and sanitation promotion and provide technical assistance.
- The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is responsible for all aspects of water supply in Kenya. Service provision has been devolved down to eight regional Water Services Boards, the primary government agents for water services delivery. The Water Services Boards work through the Water Service Providers/Water Utility Companies who actually provide and deliver drinking water.
- Coordination: The Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Working Group (ESHWG), established in 2000, has the collaborative oversight and advisory role. It has recently been transformed into an Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (ICC). ICC comprises of 30 different organisations, including ministries, NGOs, private sector representatives, development partners and universities, and meets quarterly. Six Technical Working Groups are responsible for different themes, e.g. hygiene promotion or school WASH. The working groups are represented at the district level by District Hygiene and Sanitation Committees.
