Dutch embassy backs water and sanitation improvement in Kenya

SNV, Vitens Evides International (VEI) and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) have held an inception workshop for the new Water Operators’ Partnership in Naivasha, Kenya.

Titled “Stronger Service Providers, Better Services for All in Naivasha Municipality”, the project is a 48-month intervention aimed at bringing improved water and sanitation services to an estimated 165,000 people in Naivasha Municipality, with a particular focus on sustainability of services, customer satisfaction and improved access for the (peri-)urban poor. The total project is budgeted at €5 million, with €2.5 million of the funding provided by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, leveraging DFID’s funding to WSUP of a similar amount.

Participants of the inception workshop 

Held on on July 17 and 18, the workshop brought together a wide range of particpants, including Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands representative in Kenya, Hans Docter. In his remarks, Mr. Docter called for greater efficiency and accountability in the use of public resources, as well as focus on results for the intended beneficiaries. 

The Programme Director of VEI, Adriaan Mels, reiterated the commitment of VEI and partners to ensure the project activities translate into better services for the people of Naivasha.  The Chief Executive Officer of Rift Valley Water Services Board, called for clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, prudent management of resources and a more commercial orientation. Daniel Truneh, the Head of WASH for SNV in Kenya, highlighted the importance of capacity building in ensuring the gains of the project are sustained.

While VEI and WSUP will be primarily involved in infrastructure improvements, operation and management, SNV will provide capacity development support in pro-poor service delivery, consumer feedback mechanisms, corporate governance, documentation of emerging models and upscaling of proven solutions to other towns.  

For more on SNV's work in Kenya, please click here.

For more on SNV's work in the global WASH sector, please click here.