The 12th edition of the Water Companies Sports Organisation (WASCO) games this year’s theme is “Combating Climate Change Crisis through Sports”, this is aligned with the current efforts being undertaken by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Speaking at the 12th edition of the WASCO games in Narok, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi said in recent decades, deforestation, pollution, and climate change have led to severe water stress not only in Kenya but across the World.
He added that climate change is exacerbating the situation with increasing disasters such as floods and droughts, resulting in resource-based conflicts.
Prime CS also noted that urgent action is needed to overcome this global crisis of climate change.
“This year’s clarion call: Combating Climate Change Crisis through Sports is spot on. We have all witnessed the viciousness with which climate change has unleashed various calamities on humanity,” said Mudavadi.
Prime CS said most Kenyans are affected by the effects of droughts, flooding, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, thus hampering the provision of water and basic sanitation by the utilities.
Mudavadi lauded WASCO for the launch of the tree planting drive on April 7, 2023, where all water companies in Kenya have agreed to plant 1 million trees in the next 5 years in support of the government’s target of 15 billion trees in 10 years.
On her part, the CS in charge of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Alice Wahome, echoed the sentiment of the Prime CS by saying that the effects of climate change have especially led to the emergence of severe cycles of droughts, floods, and desertification in the country.
Wahome said the government is implementing programmes such as the construction of dams aimed at increasing access to water and sanitation for all, as enshrined in the Constitution and also as part of the mandate of the Ministry.
Wahome called upon all the water service providers to partner and collaborate to ensure that consumers are given the appropriate attention they deserve in terms of access to water and sanitation in their areas of jurisdiction.
Wahome appreciated the role played by the WASCO fraternity in improving services to the entire nation in areas of capacity building and benchmarking.
Narok County Governor Patrick Ntutu thanked the WASCO fraternity for honouring the invitation from the Narok County government to host the event.
Ntutu said the event is offering an opportunity for employees of water companies to interact, share experiences, and create networks.
By John Kaleke
