SIREMBE: The Dutch government has committed over Sh50 million to enhance governance structures for community water projects in Kenya and Ghana. This funding, facilitated through the Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education, aims to bolster rural community water initiatives, including the Sirembe Community Water Project in Kenya’s Gem constituency, by focusing on capacity building.
According to Kenya News Agency, during an inception meeting at Sirembe trading centre, Dr. Irene Ngunjiri, head of the Water Governance and Innovation Hub at Strathmore University, stated that the university was the lead agency in Kenya. The 400,000 Euro project aims to address persistent challenges faced by community projects, with the goal of expanding their benefits to more people. In Kenya, the Sirembe Community Water Project will serve as a case study to identify challenges and develop a curriculum for capacity building to improve similar community projects in their operations and maintenance.
Dr. Ngunjiri emphasized that the
initiative would also train community members on sustainable management practices. Dr. Akosua Boakye, representative for Africa from Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education, expressed the institution’s commitment to enhancing the lives of rural residents through the provision of clean water. She highlighted that many community members managing water projects often lack the necessary skills, leading to project failures. The intention is to collaboratively identify problems and develop solutions to enhance management skills.
Isaiah Adipo, Managing Director of the Siaya Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBOWASCO), welcomed the support, noting that it would help expand water coverage in Siaya, which currently stands at 58%. The goal is to reach 65% by the end of Governor James Orengo’s first term. Eng. Sam Opot, patron of the Sirembe Community Water Project, expressed gratitude for the support from donors and friends, reflecting the local residents’ satisfaction with the initiative.