1. The Water Dialogue
Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for
Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya
Introduction and Context:
Associations play an important role as the represent their members and lobby towards the governmental
organizations and authorities but on the other hand on the implementation of services, capacity building and financial
sustainability.
Water Service Providers Association
WASPA membership is made up of 58 utilities, 2 students and 1 supplier. The aim of the association is to facilitate
learning, enhance lobbying and consolidate knowledge among members. The association also lobbies the government
on behalf of the utilities.
Challenges:
 High consuming government institutions such as prisons and hospitals do not pay bills
 Corporate tax: The association is lobbying for the elimination of this tax as some WSPs cannot afford it
 High electricity tariffs: This is being managed by the energy audits.
 Finance: The association only has half the WSPs present in the country in their membership. The
membership fee of 50,000KES is too high for some WSPs. Most of the money collected is a combination
from the WASPAs partners and members’ fee.
Strengthening Water Associations Partnership
WASPA and KWIA have been working together to improve their capacities with the financial help of Germany’s
Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through the SWAP-bfz project.
The associations talk together, share together and lobby together. With strong CEOs, they have the potential of being
a strong voice in the water sector.
Water Utilities are not only there to provide water but also protect the water. With increasing populations, we cannot
generate more water but can reduce the current losses.
Recommendations:
Sabine Sibler, Local Co-odinator, SWAP-bfz
THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Speakers:Eddah Wambui: Executive Secretary, Water Service Providers Association
 Conflicts in the management of resources. For example having Mombasa pay Voi/ Taveta for their water
 Energy Audits: High energy costs by WSPs have been a threat to water services provision. Together with
Kenya Association of Manufacturers’ and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, energy audits
were conducted in 29 WSPs and recommendations such as tariff transfer and use of suitable renewable
energy alternatives enabled WSPs such as Thika Water and Sewerage Company to save more than 2 million
KES after implementation of some of these suggestions
 GIS-WASH: To reduce Non Revenue Water (NRW) a fully mapped GIS mapped water utility was installed
in Kericho with leak detection capabilities and delivers more accurate data. The data revealed that the WSP

2. The Water Dialogue
Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for
Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya
was losing 80% which is 20% higher than what the WSP thought
installation of this GIS system, the WSP has reduced its losses to 37%.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
they were losing. After the
Q. Does SWAP-bfz do any capacity building for the youth?
 The capacity building is specifically for the associations. However, SWAP-bfz recognizes the youth and the
roles that they play and supported the ongoing Young Water Professionals conference and had a session on
sharing with the youth on ‘Enhancing Water Resources and Energy Management’
Q. What is the structure of the Kenyan institutional framework and what is the comparison with the
frameworks in other countries?
 Kenya is highly dependent on the Water Act (2002) which was developed by GIZ who had a number of
Zambian consultants. The act therefore has a lot borrowed from the Zambian framework. The institutional
framework in place isn’t affecting the WSPs but with devolution following the Constitution 2010, the Water
Act 2002 is disregarded and the WSPs experience challenges as some county governments plan to directly
supply water. For example in Machakos county, the governor has bought rigs and plans to start drilling
boreholes, with no experience.
Q. Can parastatals be privatised with funding from investors?
 Article 43 (1b): Water is a basic human right therefore water cannot be privatized. It is owned by the public
but run privately.
Q. What role does WASPA play in water conservation?
 Every WSP pays a levy for abstraction to WRMA and NEMA that is directed to conservation as anything
done by WRMA at the catchment level affects WSPs. Also, every WSP is also a member of the WRUA and
this is beneficial for data collection.
Q. Do the locals know about WASPA when sharing information?
 The association does not work at the grassroot level but the members (WSPs) do.
Q. What is WASPA’s strategy?
 Water provision has a good track but water sanitation and waste water treatment (e.g recycling wastewater
for industrial purposes) need development. These will be developed using both the top down and bottom up
approach.
Q. What causes bill fluctuations?
 Different utilities have different tariffs. This is because of varying operating costs
Q. Does WASPA intend to reach out to other academic institutions other than University of Nairobi?

3. The Water Dialogue
Monthly Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration for
Integrated Water Resources Management in Kenya
 Yes. Although student membership was initially not there, WASPA
has reached out to 3
academic institutions. Student membership was not included initially but the youth will eventually be
involved. This is to be included in the strategic plan.
 Also, WASPA is developing short and long courses on drilling and water utilities with the Kenya Water
Institute.
Conclusion:
Associations play a key role in not only lobbying for relevant plans and policies, they also set the standards to ensure
efficiency in the sector.