We're working to resolve water wars, says Eugene Wamalwa
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa at a past event. He has said that the national government is working to resolve water wars. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Wamalwa also attributed inadequate water supply to climate change, which has resulted in erratic weather patterns.
- Recently, there have been disputes over the use of water between various counties in different parts of the country.
- At one point, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku threatened to disconnect water supply from the springs in his county to neighbouring Makueni and Machakos counties.
The national government will consult county officials and water experts to reduce emerging conflicts between counties over the sharing of the resource, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has said.
"We are sitting with the county executives in charge of water to look at the challenges as well as build capacity and address any emerging issues such as the water wars that we have witnessed between Kajiado and Ukambani, Nairobi and Murang'a, and Bomet and Kericho," he said.
Speaking during a water governance forum in Shanzu, Mombasa, attended by national government and county executives in charge of water from all the devolved units, Mr Wamalwa assured Kenyans that his ministry will strive to improve service delivery by resolving the ongoing disputes. The forum aims to find practical solutions to the challenges in the water sector.
"We had emerging challenges in the water sector. We had inter- and intra-county conflicts, but we will use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reach amicable solutions. We assure Kenyans that through the inter-governmental relations framework we have, all the challenges will be resolved," he said.
WATER DISPUTES
"Any other emerging water disputes will also be addressed. We must strengthen governance in the sector," he said, adding that the government will not allow a "Third World War" to start over water disputes.
“That is why we are here; Kenyans should not worry, we are engaging to find solutions and strengthen governance structures,” he said.
Recently, there have been disputes over the use of water between various counties in different parts of the country.
One of the notable ones is that between Murang'a and Nairobi counties, after the Murang'a County governor said Nairobi should pay for the water it receives from the Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a County.
Similar disputes have arisen between Bomet and Kericho, and Kajiado and Makueni. At one point, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku threatened to disconnect water supply from the springs in his county to neighbouring Makueni and Machakos counties.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The usual complaint by the aggrieved counties is that they do not benefit from the resource originating from their areas.
Mr Wamalwa attributed the water disputes to governance challenges.
“It is not water shortages. We have a fast-growing population, and as the population keeps growing, the water becomes inadequate and we need to see how best we can manage the resource,” he said, adding that all Kenyans have a right to water.
Mr Wamalwa also attributed inadequate water supply to climate change, which has resulted in erratic weather patterns.
EMERGING CONFLICTS
"We need to see how best to manage the resource. The county executives in charge of water must work together.
He said his ministry is ready to work with the county governments and other players in the water sector to build or increase capacity in areas where there are inadequate or no supply.
The CS also rooted for regional blocs, saying they will help resolve some of the emerging conflicts in county governments.
He also called for the strengthening of devolution, saying it will benefit all Kenyans.
