CS Mugaa convenes strategic meeting to discuss Nairobi’s water deficit

The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eric Mugaa on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting at Maji House to fast-track critical infrastructure projects aimed at ending Nairobi's perennial water shortage.

The session brought together top leadership from key water agencies, including Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) CEO Joseph Kamau and National Water Harvesting & Storage Authority (NWHSA) acting CEOJulius Mugun.

Discussions centred on bridging the current water deficit in the Nairobi metropolitan region, which stands at approximately 280,000 cubic meters per day.

The meeting reviewed the progress of several government priority projects, including the proposed Maragua and Ruiru II dams, the Kiambu Bulk Water Carrier, and various sewerage improvement initiatives.

These projects are part of a broader "member-centric" strategy to ensure adequate water supply and improved sanitation services for city residents.

"Our goal is to ensure the Nairobi metropolitan region has adequate water supply to meet the prevailing deficit," a statement from the meeting noted.

In a move to improve financial sustainability, the CEOs updated the Cabinet Secretary on a new partnership with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

This collaboration is designed to "facilitate effective revenue collection for bulk water supplies," ensuring the agencies have the necessary resources to maintain and expand infrastructure.

The CS was accompanied by Water Secretary Eng. SAO Alima, emphasizing the high-level commitment to delivering on these sanitation and irrigation priorities.