CS Wahome to appear before senators over water regulations

She is to respond to a petition before House seeking to stop the regulations

by The Star

Opinion25 May 2023 - 08:58

In Summary

ASNET wants implementation of the Regulations, which set the water use fees for irrigation, domestic water, public water supplies and livestock use, stopped.
A group of civil society organisations has also challenged new levies by the government

Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice wahome gives a speech during a meeting with potential investors in the 100 Dams Initiative on May 18, 2023.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome will on Thursday appear before senators over the controversial Water Resources Authority 2021 Regulations.

She will appear before the Committee on Delegated Legislation to respond to the petition by the Agriculture Sector Networks (ASNET).

ASNET wants the implementation of the Regulations, which set the water use fees for irrigation, domestic water, public water supplies and livestock use, stopped.

It argues that the increase is out of touch with the realities of competitiveness in the agriculture sector and will hurt the economy.

The meeting will be held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Implementation of Water Resources Authority 2021 Regulations took effect from February 1, 2023.

ASNET wants the Senate to direct immediate alignment of the Water Regulations 2021 with the national policies on access to water.

They also want the regulations aligned to policies on the adoption of irrigated agriculture for food security and the ethos of meaningful public participation of those most affected by such regulations.

ASNET brings together the Kenya Flower Council, Fresh Produce Association of Kenya, Kenya National Farmers Federation, Lake Naivasha Growers Group and Vegpro Group.

Others are the Kenya Camel Association and Livestock Farmers representatives, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Agriculture Employers Association and Consortium for Aquaculture Association of Kenya.

A group of civil society organisations has also challenged new levies by the government on the provision of water for domestic and industrial use.

The civil groups filed a petition at the High Court in April through lawyer Kibe Mungai to stop the government from implementing the Water Resources Regulations which they claim will make the provision of water unaffordable to Kenyans.

“The Water Resources Authority Regulations 2021 has increased the water user charges at between 500 per cent and 1,000 per cent despite the water being a necessity to human, animals and plant life,” said Mungai.

The group said the Water Resources Regulations was passed in 2021 without public engagement and the Ministry of Water has started implementing it without considering the plight of vulnerable groups who cannot afford the levies.

The group comprises Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Group, Mt Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership, Likii Water Resources Users Association and Likiundu Water Resources Users Association.