SPEECH BY PROF. JUDI W.

WAKHUNGU, CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES DURING THE CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP WITH COUNTY GOVERNORS HELD AT THE MOMBASA BEACH HOTEL ON 25-26TH NOVEMBER 2013

Your Excellency, Governor of the County of Mombasa, Mr. Hassan Joho Your Excellencies, Governors of other Counties present, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Mr. James Teko Lopoyetum Chief Executive Director, Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), Engineer Philip Olum Distinguished Participants, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to have been invited to address you at this consultative forum on the important subject of Water resources. The Water Sector in this Country has undergone tremendous reforms preceding the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Devolution was the cornerstone of the reform agenda in the Sector. This will continue to be mainstreamed in pursuit of constitutional requirements. The Countrys development agenda as envisaged in the Vision

2030 has recognized water resources as a central enabler for all

the three pillars of the Vision.

Water resources availability will, therefore, continue to define the pace of our economic development. Most County Governments have prioritized water resources availability for development programs as their number one priority. This prioritization needs to be backed by concerted efforts in its conservation. For a long time, Water Resources have been viewed, in this Country, as inexhaustible resources which will always be there. Measures to manage and conserve the resources have, unfortunately, not been matched with enough zeal as water services provision. We have neglected the water sources for a long time until we find the intakes dry.

Ladies and Gentlemen, My Ministry has supported the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) to effectively manage water resources for the benefit of all Kenyans irrespective of their location in this country. The management of Water is based on the Integrated Water Resources Management Principles. Kenyas water resources are managed along major river drainage systems, which follow river basin drainage areas - water catchment areas - whose boundaries are river drainage-based, as opposed to the County Boundaries which are administrative-based. We are appealing for your understanding in this regard.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 reads in the fourth Schedule, part 1, sec 2, the use of International water and water resources is a

function that has been allocated to the National Government.

Currently this I being done by my Ministry through WRMA. The international water should, by extension, cover inter-county waters as determined by drainage basins. There are functions that are complementary to water resource management, but have been allocated to the County Governments, such as storm water management, water-related disaster management and catchment protection.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I, therefore, request County Governments to work closely with WRMA and Water River Users Associations (WRUAs) to continue with the good work already in progress. As you formulate your County Laws dealing with water and environment-related legislations, I request you to work closely with WRMA and the Ministry to ensure harmony in the sector. Water catchment areas are crucial for sustainable water resources. In developing and implementing the county development plans, please ensure that wetland protection and water conservation are mainstreamed in them.

My Ministry has developed a National Water Master Plan 2030, whose final report is expected in December 2013. The Plan has considered all the water demands for our Vision 2030 development aspirations. It is my hope that all County Governments will base their water resources investment programs on the recommendations as contained in this Master Plan. There is a Water Resources Development Plan that incorporates water storage, with planned large multi-purpose dams, which will complement available surface water availability.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Artificial Ground water recharge is also explored through ongoing aquifer mapping. This will continue and my appeal is that these schemes be given priority in your development plans. This will ensure prudent and sustainable investments and focus our scarce resources to where we shall get maximum benefits. Let me finalize by stating that water resources do not only belong to all of us as a country, but also belong to other countries with which we share water bodies.

All our development aspirations should, therefore, take cognizance of this reality irrespective of our location. No County should, therefore, be marginalized in terms of water resources due to its location. With those remarks, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to declare the Consultative Workshop for County Governors officially opened. THANK YOU!