Kenya Faces $9B Water Crisis

Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Muuga has revealed that his ministry would require an estimated Kshs. 995 billion to ensure each Kenyan has an access to water.

Muuga noted that his ministry has developed a sustainable plan to tackle the challenge; proposing that a proper Aquifer mapping needed to be carried out to determine the water source in Kenya.

"If we look at Kenya, and to ensure everyone has access to water and we have enough sources, the ministry has an investment vehicle; National Water and Sanitation Investment and Financing Plan, we need around Kshs. 995 billion," Muuga stated.
He added that Kenya faces water storage problem and developing sustainable systems would be key in solving the issue.

"For now if we look at all sources of revenue, this could be by 2030. With government funding, concession loans, public-private partnership (PPP) and development partners, we can't raise more than Kshs. 500 billion. You must have deliberate action and person of knowledge to know where you want to go, he added.

He listed projects in the pipeline such as the Horn of Africa Ground Water Resilience Program which will see over 400 boreholes dug in northern parts of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Muuga added that the World Bank has committed Kshs. 49.8 billion for the project that is currently in progress.