Nakuru Hosts International Workshop to Strengthen Community Participation in Water Projects

Written by Jilopa K. Ezra

The County’s Department of Water, Environment and Climate Change in partnership with the University of Oxford, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa and Rural Water Supply Network hosted a workshop to address sustainable management practices in East Africa.

The workshop brought together over 39 water sector stakeholders worldwide to build on the experience from a similar workshop conducted in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2024.

The workshop aimed to foster a comprehensive dialogue on effective community collaboration and engagement in water supply projects, focusing on individual, intra-household, and group dynamics.

It also addressed the role and responsibilities of water sector projects and the need for capacity building among communities.

In addition, discussions aiming to identify gaps between policies, practices, improvements, social justice and resource mobilization were also highlighted.

CECM of Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Nelson Maara noted that the workshop also served as a testament to the collective commitment towards addressing the critical challenges facing communities in accessing safe and sustainable water sources.

He noted that more discussions will take place encompassing the broader context of climate change and water and peace, which continues to exert profound effects on water supply projects across the region.

Among the solutions reached in the workshop is to develop a policy brief for water service providers on how to ethically consider the community’s responsibilities in the process.

Also present during the workshop was Eng Margaret Kinyanjui- Chief Officer for water and sanitation, Mr Edward Gitau, Chief officer for Public Participation and Citizen Engagement, Eng. Johnson Kamau Director for Water and Sanitation, FCPA Reuben Korir – NARUWASCO Dr Marina Proud of Oxford University, Co-Organisers Euphresia Robai-International Water Association, Dr Aline Saraiva – RWSN and Ms Pan Ei -Oxford University.