LREB governors commit to address disparities in access to clean water

By Peter Ochieng

Fourteen governors drawn from the Lake region Economic Bloc (LREB) have called on all stakeholders to unite, for an environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient future.

In a joint communique at the end of a two-day inaugural conference on partnerships for water security held in Kisumu, the governors affirmed their collective obligation to secure access to clean and safe water for the over 17 million residents within the block.

The county chiefs said water security is essential for social and economic development, and remains a basic human right.

They also committed to uphold environmentally sustainability policies, including protecting and rehabilitating critical water catchment areas and ecosystems.

"Our bloc is committed to fostering inter-county collaboration on shared water resources, particularly rivers and lakes,” they stated.

Giving an assurance to build climate resilience systems across their counties, they said that the Lake Region is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions such as floods and drought.

They committed to collaborate with their respective technical teams, so as to create liable well-structured proposals that align with regional and national priorities for water security.

“We are committed to addressing disparities in access to water and sanitation services, particularly in marginalised and rural areas,” they stated.

Additionally, the county bosses said that in order to enhance management of water resources at a regional level, they support the formation of water basin committees, which will include representation from counties that share key water bodies.

The committees, they said, will work to oversee the sustainable management of watersheds, rivers and lakes in the region.

They emphasised on the need to promote private sector led innovation financing mechanisms, to fund water and sanitation infrastructure projects.

"Public-Private partnerships will be prioritised to leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector, thereby enhancing service delivery in our region."

"LREB will leverage research and innovation which are critical in addressing water scarcity, improving sanitation and building climate resilience as well as expanding water access in rural areas and developing a regional integrated catchment conservation plan as well as reducing non-revenue water."

The Communique was signed by governors Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), Simba Arati (Kisii), Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Gladys Wanga (Homabay).

Others are James Orengo (Siaya), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Eric Mutai (Kericho), Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia) Paul Otuoma (Busia) and Wilberforce Ottichillo (Vihiga).