Strenghthening water resource management in Kenya
Kenya is moving towards a more sustainable, transparent, and evidence-based approach to managing its water resources through the Improved Data Collection, Monitoring and Revenue Base for Water Resource Management (IMPRODATWRM) project. The initiative is scheduled to commence in January 2027 and is supported by Denmark in Kenya. Its implementation will be led by the Water Resources Authority (WRA), working in collaboration with Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs) and other key actors within the water sector.
A major focus of the project will be the enhancement of digital systems used for registering and licensing water abstraction, as well as improving revenue collection. It will also support the modernisation of hydrological monitoring and decision-support mechanisms. By strengthening these systems, the project aims to improve the availability and quality of water-related data, enhance regulatory compliance, support more informed planning, and establish a stronger and more sustainable financial foundation for water resource management.
The involvement of KeNAWRUA at the project’s initial co-creation stage is particularly significant. Its participation helped bring the experiences and priorities of WRUAs and local communities into the development of the initiative, ensuring that the project is informed by perspectives from those directly engaged in water resource management at the community level.
The initiative therefore presents an opportunity for Kenya to move away from fragmented information and largely reactive approaches to water management. By investing in reliable data, modern monitoring systems, digital processes, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders, the country can build a more efficient, accountable, and sustainable framework for safeguarding and managing its water resources.
