National government, counties strengthen WASH collaboration
The sixth K-WASH Implementation Support Mission has expanded its engagement to counties, with national and county governments working together to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and accelerate implementation of programme activities.
The mission team, comprising representatives from the State Department for Water and Sanitation, the World Bank Group, K-WASH teams and other partners, is engaging county leaders and visiting selected WASH facilities to assess progress, identify challenges and explore practical measures to improve service delivery.
Tharaka Nithi County is among the counties hosting the field engagement. The visit began with a courtesy call to the office of the County Governor before the team proceeded to selected water and sanitation sites supported through the programme.
The field visits included institutions such as health facilities and schools that are benefiting from K-WASH interventions. The engagements are providing an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the impact of ongoing investments, understand challenges facing beneficiaries and discuss measures needed to improve the sustainability of WASH services.
The county-level mission forms part of a broader assessment of K-WASH implementation as stakeholders work towards accelerating the delivery of Year Three results. Through direct engagement with county leadership and service providers, the mission is also seeking to strengthen coordination between national and devolved institutions.
Discussions during the engagement are focusing on several areas critical to improving water service delivery. These include strengthening water utilities, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the development of bankable projects capable of attracting sustainable financing for WASH investments.
Stakeholders are also examining practical challenges affecting the delivery of water and sanitation services and exploring solutions that can be implemented at county level. The discussions are expected to help counties address operational gaps while improving the quality, reliability and sustainability of services.
The collaboration between national and county governments remains central to the implementation of K-WASH, particularly because counties play a key role in delivering water and sanitation services to communities. Continued coordination between government institutions, development partners, water utilities and other stakeholders is therefore important in translating programme investments into sustainable services.
Following the Tharaka Nithi engagement, similar field activities are planned in Kwale and Nandi counties. The mission will also include workshops bringing together county governments and Water Service Providers (WSPs) across programme areas.
The engagements are expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, review implementation challenges and identify opportunities for accelerating WASH investments.
The sixth Implementation Support Mission therefore provides an important opportunity for K-WASH partners to strengthen collaboration at both national and county levels while supporting efforts to improve access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services across participating counties
