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{
"id": 207914,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/207914/?format=api",
"text_counter": 124,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Katuku",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Water and Irrigation",
"speaker": {
"id": 281,
"legal_name": "John Mutua Katuku",
"slug": "mutua-katuku"
},
"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair. First and foremost, I wish to point out that the Ministry is composed of five departments - four technical and one administrative - charged with the following broad functions: Water and Sewerage Services, Water Resource Management, Irrigation and Drainage, Land Reclamation and Support Services. In addition, there are 13 parastatals and one tribunal, which are supposed to be in the Ministry's Budget, namely, the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation, the National Irrigation Board, the Kenya Water Institute, the Water Services Regulatory Board, the Water Resource Management Authority, the Water Services Trust Fund and seven water services boards, which are the Athi, Coastal, Lake Victoria North, Lake Victoria South, Northern, Tana and Rift Valley Water Services Boards, and the Water Appeals Board. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the water and sewerage services sector has fully undergone reforms aimed at improving service delivery. The effects of these reforms have begun to be felt by Kenyans. In the past three years since the reforms were rolled out, major achievements in the provision of water services have been realised. Hon. Members can bear me witness that these key institutions are now operational, and that capacity is being built to enable them undertake their responsibilities. As hon. Members are aware, access to adequate and reliable water supply is a key input to poverty reduction, and an important element for social stability, economic growth and performance. The water sector reforms, which started in previous financial years, will continue in the financial year 2007/2008 as will be outlined in the Estimates I will be presenting today. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the past, the increasing demand created by the high population growth, coupled with inadequate investment in water supply management and development, led to a serious deterioration in water supply infrastructure as well as depletion of existing sources of renewable fresh water and poor service delivery, and poor water quality was common in most urban and rural schemes. In addition, encroachment on water catchment areas has destroyed sources of water, August 21, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3291 resulting in severe hydrological variability as rivers became seasonal and, sometimes, dried up completely. When the NARC Government came to power, certain pledges were made, as clearly spelt out in the NARC Manifesto and, consequently expounded in the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation, 2003-2007. One pledge was to facilitate improvement of access to water for Kenyans. Towards this end, my Ministry undertook to design a comprehensive sector development strategy, with clear division of roles and functions, as well as a well-defined partnership between the Government and stakeholders. Mr. Speaker, Sir, improved delivery of water and sewerage services is to be achieved within the framework of the water services sector reform initiative as stipulated in the Water Act, 2002. Consequently, my Ministry has implemented the Water Act, 2002 in order to provide an enabling legal and institutional framework for undertaking the sector reform initiative. Those reforms have resulted in separation of roles among the players in the water and sewerage services and water services management. The functions previously undertaken by the Ministry have been decentralised, thus leaving the Ministry with the role of formulation and co-ordination. Mr. Speaker, Sir, regarding management of urban water and sewerage services, the Ministry is implementing a policy focusing on commercialisation through establishment of semi- autonomous public sector companies. The preferred water companies are those formed by local authorities infused with professional management and expertise, most of which is locally available, to underscore efficiency in water service delivery. The Ministry advocates that water revenues collected from the consumers be ploughed back and utilised exhaustively for provision and improvement of water and sewerage services, including the extension of distribution systems and upgrading water facilities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me reiterate that the Government has no plans to privatise water services in the country. That would involve the disposal of public assets to private investors. The NARC Government pledged to increase the public investment in water resource development. That was in recognition of the fact that, the water supply and water resources situation had deteriorated considerably over one and half decades due to low investments. Funds were, therefore, required for the immediate rehabilitation of the depleted urban and rural water schemes in order to restore their levels of service delivery to their original design capacities. However, funds were also required for putting up new facilities and medium extensions to meet the growing demand for water services. Mr. Speaker, Sir, according to the Ministry's investment programme needs, it was estimated that investment of Kshs300 billion would be required in the next 10 years for the achievement of Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goal No.7 of having a proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation covered by 2015. That means an annual investment of Kshs30 billion between 2005 and 2015, reversing the decline of water resource availability and improving irrigation potential. In this regard, the limited funds available will be invested in rehabilitation of existing water supplies and the provision of immediate benefits in terms of value for money. I, therefore, intend to spend Kshs831,700,000 in the current financial year on rehabilitation of rural water supplies under the Development Vote. In addition, Kshs3,990,317,515, which includes Kshs239,100,000 from the Government of Kenya, would be utilised for the rehabilitation and development of our urban water supplies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we embark on those major activities of rehabilitating water and sewerage infrastructure, my Ministry recognises the need to provide the people of Kenya with adequate and good quality water at all times. That would be achieved through ensuring adequate water treatment, proper utility maintenance and improved management of water supply and sewerage services. 3292 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 21, 2007 My Ministry, therefore, intends to spend Kshs517,100,000 under the Recurrent Vote to meet the cost of electricity, water treatment, chemicals and rehabilitation of civil works in water systems countrywide. During the same period, Appropriations-in-Aid (A-in-A) of Kshs929,140,000 will be collected from the sale of water and sewerage services through the water service boards. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the mandate for the waste water treatment and disposal is under my Ministry. In order to discharge that mandate, my Ministry intends to spend Kshs122 million under the Development Vote for rehabilitation and development of water waste treatment and drainage works with an addition of Kshs290 million from our development partners. May I add, Mr. Speaker, Sir, that, that falls short of our expected requirement of about Kshs1.38 billion for sewerage services which have remained a huge problem throughout the country. As hon. Members know, growth of towns and urbanisation in general is beginning to affect fresh water sources through pollution and, thus, my Ministry will continue to fund sewerage schemes to manage waste water from the towns. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government handed over the management of its water services facilities to seven regional water services boards in July 2005, following a nationwide consultation process. Since then, the water services boards are responsible for the efficient and economical provision of water and sewerage services within their areas of jurisdictions. To enable the boards to achieve their mandates, my Ministry has allocated Kshs4,470,481,381 in gross expenditure under the Development Vote, and Kshs170 million under the Recurrent Vote. In order to increase water coverage in the country, my Ministry has allocated Kshs831,700,000 in the Development Vote to the seven water service boards. The allocation will target rural areas in districts under the jurisdiction of economic development and poverty reduction. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Water Service Trust Fund was established to supplement the efforts of the water services boards in the provision of water and sewerage services, particularly to areas with inadequate coverage. To enable the trust fund to achieve its mandate of financing the provision of water services to under-served areas, my Ministry intends to incur a gross expenditure of Kshs80 million in the Development Vote and Kshs15 million in the Recurrent Vote. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Water Service Regulatory Board was established under the Water Act, 2002, to regulate water and sewerage services provision including issuing of licensing, setting standards and guidelines for tariffs and prices. The Board is also responsible for technical and economic supervision of water services boards. Towards that end, my Ministry has allocated a gross total of Kshs15 million in the Recurrent Vote for those activities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, water resource management is a key issue in this country. As a result of the depletion of water sources through the destruction of our major sources and pollution among other factors, Kenya has been classified as a chronically water-scarce country by international standards. That calls for an integrated approach to the management of water resources in order to reverse the trends. In that connection, my Ministry has established the Water Resource Management Authority and the Water Catchment Areas Advisory Committee to manage the water resources as provided for in the Water Act, 2002. The overall objective of the decentralisation is to involve all stakeholders in decision-making in water resource management for sustainability. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Water Resources Management Authority was also established under the Act to be responsible for regulation of water resources and issues such as water allocation, source protection and conservation, water quality management and pollution control and trans- boundary waters. Towards this end, my Ministry has allocated a total of Kshs5 million in the Development Vote as the Government of Kenya (GoK) funds to fund the services. The Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) for Creation of Wealth and Employment has identified irrigation as a key subsector to reviving the economy and ensuring food security. This is August 21, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3293 due to the fact that 80 per cent of our country's landmass is arid and semi-arid, thus creating a lot of population pressure on the high potential areas. Out of a potential irrigation of 939,000 hectares, only 110,000 hectares have been developed representing only 20 per cent of the total potential. The potential can be increased to 1.3 million hectares through water harvesting and storage. At this juncture, it is important to inform hon. Members that small-scale irrigation is managed directly by my Ministry while large-scale irrigation is managed by the National Irrigation Board (NIB). May I also inform the House that my Ministry has already finalised the National Irrigation and Drainage Policy that would promote private sector participation and improve management of small-scale irrigation schemes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with regard to the Water Vision 2030, my Ministry has proposed that we embrace the Vision to ensure water and sanitation availability and access to all. To realise this noble task, critical focus will be required across one of the four key areas in the sector, that is, irrigation and drainage where, as a country, we need to expand the area under irrigation and drainage while improving technology to ensure both efficiency and effectiveness in the water use. As a contribution to the Vision 2030, my Ministry's goal is, therefore, to increase the area under irrigation from the current 110,000 hectares to 210,000 hectares by 2012; increase the area under drainage from 30,000 hectares to 90,000 hectares by 2012; rehabilitate existing infrastructure, protect water catchment areas and expand our water reservoirs, including promotion of rainwater harvesting to empower our farming communities to participate in development and management of their schemes, and increase regular monitoring of water resources from the current 35 per cent to 70 per cent in order to increase water use efficiency and identify areas that need attention before serious deterioration. In order to undertake the above goal, I estimate that the sector would require approximately Ksh20 billion per year for the next five years. As a task, the Government conviction to the improved agricultural production in the country, this year, I propose to spend Kshs474,353,854 under the Development Vote on the rehabilitation and development of small-scale irrigation infrastructure and support all small-scale irrigation schemes countrywide. This is an increase of 7 per cent on what was allocated last year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the effort to address development constraints in the ASAL areas, my Ministry has embarked on Intensive Integral ASAL Development Programme to facilitate sustainable economic and social development of the communities in those areas. This is to be achieved through developing infrastructure facilities, reclamation of degraded land and strengthening integrated research in ASAL development. I propose to spend Kshs56,350,000 under the Development Vote towards the cause of Integrated ASAL Development and Turkana Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would now like to talk about the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), which absorbs a substantial number of our country's labour force, particularly those in the middle and lower cadres after training at KEWI. For the last 34 years, this Institute has been contributing enormously to the national economy through human resource development for the sector. As hon. Members are aware, KEWI is now a semi-autonomous Government agency established through the Kenya Water Institute Act, 2001. The objectives of the Institute are to: (i) promote and provide directly or in collaboration with other institutions of higher learning, service in human resource development consultancy and research in the water sector on commercial basis, (ii) provide training programmes, seminars and workshops, (iii)produce publications aimed at maintaining standards in the water and sanitation sector, (iv)provide a forum for effective collaboration; and, (v) conduct examinations and award diplomas and certificates and other awards to 3294 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 21, 2007 successful candidates. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to enable the Institute train manpower for the water sector, my Ministry has allocated Kshs40 million for the rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings under the Development Vote and Kshs140 million under the Recurrent Vote. I would now like to turn to the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC). This is a very crucial parastatal under my Ministry. The mandate of the parastatal was changed from being a water service provider to being a Government contractor in the water and sanitation sector, particularly in ASAL water development. During the previous financial year, the corporation managed to drill 227 boreholes and developed 380 pans and dams countrywide, most of which were done in the ASAL region. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in line with the Government policy of accelerating economic development of ASAL areas, my Ministry places great emphasis on developing sources of water supplies for domestic use and livestock in line with the Government economic recovery programme for North Eastern Province, Isiolo, Marsabit and Moyale districts launched by His Excellency the President in 2004. This will be achieved through increasing the water conservation and storage capacity of ASAL areas through rehabilitation and development of dams and water pans. In this regard, I intend to spend Kshs272 million to facilitate the NWCPC to undertake its mandate under its Recurrent Vote and Kshs793 million will also be spent on rehabilitation and development of 189 dams and pans mainly in ASAL districts and a few in other districts. Regional grounds assessment programmes are being initiated in ASAL regions to identify areas of good ground water potential for exploitation. Currently, only 170 million cubic metres of ground water is abstracted per year out of an estimated annual ground water potential of 619 million cubic metres. This represents a mere 27 per cent of abstraction. Towards this end, my Ministry intends to spend Kshs735 million under the Development Vote for investigation and development of ground water resources through drilling of 180 boreholes, mainly in ASAL areas and a few in other districts. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members may be aware, flooding of River Nyando and River Nzoia has in the past caused such devastation and displacement of local communities in otherwise agricultural productive areas to the extent that they have been put under the Food Relief Programme (FRP). This devastation has been recurring every year and will continue to do so until a long-term measure is put in place. In this regard, the Government is determined to find a lasting solution to the problem. That will involve the construction of flood control dykes and balancing reservoirs which will be used for irrigation and rehabilitation of affected catchment areas. The sites being investigated, include Webuye Falls in Bungoma-Lugari District, Kipkaren Bridge in Uasin- Gishu District and Ramula in Siaya District. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government has already obtained funds for studies and designs of flood control structures in the areas I have mentioned above. Designs, works and investigations at the named sites will be carried out within two years. Construction will begin when funds become available. In the meantime, the Minister has allocated Kshs205 million under the Development Vote for rehabilitation and construction of flood control dykes on Nyando-Nzoia-Garissa floods. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in its effort to mitigate the effects of floods, the Minister has developed a strategy for integrated flood management for Lake Victoria Basin in Kenya. The strategy is expected to serve as a basis for developing the national strategy and the policy for integrated flood management in Kenya. To enable this corporation undertake this critical assignment, I am proposing an allocation of Kshs1,733,500,000 of our gross expenditure under the Development Vote for this purpose. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members are aware, the National Irrigation Board (NIB) was established under the Water and Irrigation Act (1996). The sole purpose of the NIB is initiating and August 21, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3295 promoting irrigation development and maintaining the six irrigation schemes in the country. The NIB has over the years managed Mwea, Pekerra, Ahero, West Kano, Bunyala and Hola irrigation schemes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the 2005/2006 Financial Year, the Bura Irrigation Scheme was returned under the NIB management in order to infuse professional management in its operations. The NIB has been spearheading the rehabilitation of these schemes. For the last four financial years, we have spent about Kshs1,073,812,000 to rehabilitate the schemes. With the investment to the NIB, we hope to get more areas covered under the scheme and produce more from our irrigation schemes. Due to budgetary and other constraints, the performance of the schemes has not been satisfactory. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in this regard, my Ministry has restructured the NIB whose combined area under irrigation is 12,000 hectares. Based on the focus mandate, the Board will concentrate on rehabilitation of all the schemes under it. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry allocated Kshs130 million under the Recurrent Expenditure and Kshs420 million under Development Expenditure to enable the Board to continue rehabilitating the scheme. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as observed from the copies of 2007 Development Expenditure, page 531 to 641, my Ministry's gross Development Expenditure during the 2007/2008 Financial Year is Kshs11,418,139,034 of which Kshs6,850,139,029 is support from our development partners while Kshs4 billion is from the Exchequer---"
}