National government streamlines Turkana water projects
Efforts to improve access to reliable water services for refugees and host communities in Turkana County have received a boost following discussions on a proposed project to rehabilitate and improve water supply infrastructure in key urban centres.
The proposed Project for the Improvement of Water Supply Facilities for Refugees and their Host Communities in Turkana County was discussed during a meeting involving representatives from UN-Habitat and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by Ms. Ayane Tsukishima.
The engagement focused on plans to strengthen water supply systems in Kakuma and Lodwar Municipalities, with the proposed intervention seeking to improve infrastructure and support more sustainable delivery of water services to both refugee populations and the communities hosting them.
The project, which has been endorsed by the Ministry, is being supported through JICA funding and is designed around an integrated approach to water service provision. This approach seeks to ensure that investments in water infrastructure benefit both refugees and host communities rather than addressing the needs of either population in isolation.
Under the proposed intervention, existing water supply infrastructure will be rehabilitated and improved to strengthen the capacity and reliability of water systems in the two municipalities.
The discussions highlighted the importance of sustainable infrastructure in expanding access to water services in areas experiencing increasing demand. Rehabilitation of existing facilities can help improve the performance of water systems while supporting more dependable services for households and other users.
The proposed project also comes at a time when Turkana continues to require increased investment in water infrastructure to respond to the needs of growing populations and communities hosting refugees.
Kakuma has developed into an important settlement area hosting refugees and other displaced populations, while Lodwar serves as a major urban and administrative centre in Turkana. Improving water supply infrastructure in both locations is therefore expected to support wider social and economic activities.
The involvement of UN-Habitat and JICA brings together development expertise and financing to support the planned improvements. Discussions between the partners and the Ministry are expected to help advance coordination and planning for the proposed intervention.
A key aspect of the project is its emphasis on sustainability. Rather than focusing only on expanding infrastructure, the intervention seeks to improve existing facilities in a manner that can support reliable water service provision over the longer term.
Improved water supply systems would also have wider benefits for communities, including supporting public health, livelihoods and local economic activities. Reliable access to water is particularly important in urban areas where population growth can place additional pressure on existing infrastructure.
The proposed investment demonstrates the importance of partnerships in addressing water supply challenges in areas hosting both refugees and local populations. Collaboration between Government institutions, development partners and financing agencies can help mobilise the technical and financial resources required to improve essential infrastructure.
The discussions between the Ministry, UN-Habitat and the JICA team therefore mark another step towards strengthening water services in Turkana County.
As planning for the proposed project progresses, the focus will remain on improving water supply infrastructure in Kakuma and Lodwar while ensuring that the resulting services are sustainable and accessible to both refugees and their host communities.
