Water Sector Strategic Plan (WSSP) 2009-2014.

This Strategic Plan (WSSP) is in answer to a looming national water crisis, which calls for a new understanding of the country’s water situation. The need to take action to reverse the current negative trends and establish a situation where present and future generations will have the water they need to sustain their well-being, live in peace and enjoy good health is requires all to strive to harness enough water for both health and wealth for all in Kenya. The Plan aims to : increase the knowledge among sector stakeholders of the current challenges and changes in the sector; provide policy and regulatory guidance to stakeholders as to how the challenges should be met; provide a conducive environment for improved collaboration and coordination by stakeholders, ensuring that interventions pull in the same direction and resources be used effectively and efficiently; provide a structure for follow-up and evaluation that covers all aspects of water development and allows us to adjust our combined efforts over time, as required by circumstances. The Strategic Plan, as well as the water and sanitation sector as a whole, is guided by Vision 2030. The preparation of the WSSP coincided with the revitalisation of a Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) for the water and sanitation sector. Complementary to the WSSP, the SWAP provides an implementation framework that will increase impact and value for money by improving effectiveness and efficiency in the utilisation of resources.
This Plan is presented in five parts which are divided into nine chapters: Part 1 Consists of the Preamble, which covers the Foreword, Table of Contents, Acronyms and Executive Summary Part II (Chapters 1-2) includes the introduction in chapter 1, while Chapter 2 outlines the Approach and Methodology used during the development of the Plan. Part III (Chapter 3) provides a Situation Analysis, which analyses various aspects of the sector’s current status as well as its role in facilitating Kenya’s national development agenda. Part III (Chapters 4, 5 and 6) examine the various dimensions of the water sector – viz. the Sustainability, Economic, and Social. Within each dimension more specific situational analyses have been undertaken, to identify pertinent sub-sectoral Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) as well the stakeholder analyses. Lessons learned from the relevant studies and experiences are also presented with implications for the development and implementation of this Plan. Part IV (Chapter 7 and 8) wrap up the Plan Implementation Strategies: Chapter 7 examines the institutional and cross-cutting aspects that are critical for the successful implementation of the WSSP. Chapter 8 includes implementation strategies at the national, regional and community levels and also discusses the Organizational Structures needed to deliver the WSSP. It also includes the Monitoring & Evaluation mechanisms that are designed to keep the implementation of the Plan on course as well as the requisite Information and Education Framework. Part V Covers the Annexes: which include, the resource requirements, key strategies considered threshold for the delivery of the WSSP objectives and the references that informed the planning process. Themes present in the Plan include, among other things, ecosystems approach, disaster management (floods, droughts), irrigation, gender and youth issues, water supply, water pollution, groundwater exploitation, transboundary waters, water-related conflicts, sanitation, the social dimension of water.
The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) is the lead agency in the Water Sector. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is technically divided into four sub sectors; Water Resources, Water Services, Irrigation and Drainage, and Land Reclamation, which all have developed – or are developing – strategies within their respective areas. Annex 4.1 sets out Key stakeholders responsible for sustainability of water resources. The Ministry of Fisheries shall be responsible for development of sustainable aquaculture to control river pollution and destruction of wetlands.