The national and county governments yesterday signed a Sh900 billion National Water and Sanitation Investment Financing Plan (NAWASIP) to tackle the ravages of drought.

Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson Anne Waiguru said the plan would help both the national and county governments develop systems to harvest water in order to mitigate the effects of drought.

The pact comes at a time weather experts are warning of suppressed rainfall during the short rains period and have warned the government to put in place water harvesting mechanisms.

Currently, the national government and the 47 devolved units have set aside a total of Sh20 billion to implement the projects.

Long term

Under the plan, county governments have prioritized projects they intend to implement to mitigate the effects of drought.

Speaking at the event, Wahome urged the county governments to mobilise funding after identifying the specific projects they intend to implement in the short, medium and long term under the plan.

“I’m sure that it is now in your minds that in the short-term you can do the harvesting. Even from the rains you can do quick storage by way of bulk water and building of dams. This instrument will help the county governments to mobilize funding both at the county and government levels, at partners’ level and at private-partnership levels,” Wahome said.

She said the decision to implement the plan was reached following wide consultations between county governments and partners, under the guidance of the Ministry.

“In terms of water coverage, we are 70 per cent. We want to talk about how many households can be able to access water at their doorstep or within less than a kilometre,” she added.

The headcount, she said, will help get accurate figures instead of making blanket statements.

Waiguru said the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) will first get the data on the needs that are required in every county.  The data will then get synthesized into the overall plan written in the policy format, she explained.

 “Whenever we want to put money for our water projects, this is the framework that we will use to show where the needs are. This has been developed in consultation with the residents of the various counties,” Waiguru added.