The Dutch government has released more than Sh50 million to strengthen community water projects’ governance structures in Kenya and Ghana.
The money, released through the Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education, will see several rural community water projects, among them Kenya’s Sirembe Community water project in Gem constituency benefit in terms of capacity building.
Speaking during an inception meeting at Sirembe trading centre, the head of water governance and innovation hub at Strathmore university, Dr. Irene Ngunjiri said the university was the lead agency in Kenya.
Dr. Ngunjiri said the 400,000 Euro project will help address the challenges that have perennially dogged community projects with a view of making them benefit more people.
She said that in Kenya, Sirembe community water project will be used as a case study where they will look at the challenges.
“From challenges, we shall design a curriculum that will be used for capacity building to help other similar community projects to improve on their operation and maintenance challenges,” said Dr. Ngunjiri.
She said that the project will also train members of the community on better management practices that will see them operate sustainably.
Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education representative for Africa, Dr. Akosua Boakye said the Dutch based institution was committed to improving the lives of those living in the rural areas through provision of clean water.
Dr. Akosua said the institute had realised that most community members tasked with the management of water projects often lack adequate skills and capacity to carry out the task, leading to their collapse.
“Our intention is to understand what the problems are from the community and together, come up with solutions needed to improve the management skills” she said.
Speaking during the occasion, the Managing Director of the Siaya Bondo water and sanitation company (SIBOWASCO), Isaiah Adipo welcomed the support, saying that it will help extend water coverage in Siaya.
Adipo said that water coverage in the county currently stands at 58%.
“We envision reaching 65% by the end of the first term of governor James Orengo,” he said.
The patron of the Sirembe community water project, Eng. Sam Opot welcomed the project, saying that the local residents were happy with the support from the donors and friends.
By Philip Onyango
