Reforms in the water sector The Coast Water Services Board was one of the products of Water Reforms that were initiated by the culmination of the Water Act 2002. The purpose of these reforms was to improve the management of water resources; improve access to water and sanitation services; enhance accountability for water resource management through decentralized provision of service and improve utilization of water resources, for both domestic and irrigation purposes

The Water Sector reforms aimed at achieving an efficient and effective way of managing water resources. In order to enhance this efficiency and effectiveness, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) continues to vigorously implement the reforms to improve service delivery of water and sewerage service to customers.

The reforms took cognizance of government policy papers such as:

• The Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (2003 - 2007),
• The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2002) which outlines the priority measures that are necessary to achieve the twin objectives of poverty
• reduction and economic growth, the government's commitment to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation by the year 2015
• The Kenya Vision 2030, which is the country's development blueprint
• The National Water Services Strategy (2007-2015) , which aims at the development and monitoring of water and sewerage services.

MESSAGES :.

Message from the Chairman - Hamisi Mwachai

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to our website.  Coast Water Services Board has achieved another milestone in the improvement of the water and sanitation services in the Coast Province as a whole, as we strive to become more customer based.

Our website contains information on the Board's vision, mission, objectives and functions amongst other items. 

The Coast Water Services Board received its mandate from the Ministry of Water & Irrigation in July 2005, for the provision of water and sewerage services in the Coast Region.

In accordance with the Water Act 2002 the Board is the sole licensee for the provision of water and sewerage services in the Coast region.  However, these services are provided through public companies contracted by the Board, each one representing a district.  Six Water Service Providers have been contracted in six districts.

In addition, we assist communities to form companies/associations in the rural areas, and help such projects to secure funds, through the Water Service Trust Fund.

I hope that you will find our website informative and beneficial.  

Mr. Hamisi Mwachai.
Chairman

Message from the Chief Executive Officer

We at Coast Water Services Board are proud to launch our website.  We hope to bring you news and views of the Board's operations and progress review, as well as to enable you get useful information about our services in the Coast region as a whole.

The Board is committed to excellence and we would like to ensure all the residents of the Coast that delivery of clean water and sanitation services will greatly improve in the near future.

We welcome our customers to call the Board offices and report any incidences of water contamination or inadequate/unsatisfactory services. 

This initiative is aimed at ensuring that our board's vision of providing world class water and sanitation services to the coast residents is achieved.

Please feel free to comment on our website as this will enable us be more focused on your needs.

Mr. Andy Maro Tola.
Chief Executive Officer

Challenges

Obsolete facilities – CWSB took over old and dilapidated facilities.  The Mzima pipeline was constructed in 1953 and the Marere between 1917 and 1923. These pipes are prone to leaks and bursts, especially during the rainy season.   During the rainy season there is a tendency of people using rainwater as opposed to billed water.  This therefore increases the amount of water running through the pipes resulting into high pressure that is detrimental to an already weak pipeline.  Also, the increased weight of the wet earth on the pipeline results to leaks and bursts. 

High amount of unaccounted for water – a lot of water is lost through pipe leaks and bursts and thus does not reach the consumer.  Another persistent problem is illegal connections illustrated by a rise of water vendors and kiosks.  Poor metering including low quality meters, has also contributed to the level of unaccounted for water as the readings are not usually accurate.

Changing demographic patterns e.g. unplanned urban movement and settlement patterns.  Water that reaches urban settlements cannot cater for the increased demand, as increase in water supply is not simultaneous to increase in urban population.

Political interference – Politicians have a tendency of interfering with  proposed water projects with an incline of steering projects to areas favouring them politically. 

There is no clear legal framework to protect the board from such illegal activities as encroachment and land grabbing on pipeline reserves.

The poverty level in the country still makes us rely heavily on donors, for our projects, which eventually leads to “donor fatigue” and yet the board has a number of large projects which are focused on increasing water supply that will require heavy donor funding.

Some of the Board's water production like Baricho and Tiwi water abstraction sources runs into high production costs because of their electrical pumping nature. The electrical costs are expensive. 

Naturally a bigger percent of the coastal region is arid to semi arid and thus the natural water resources are scarce compared to the demand.

CDO Challenges – this challenge is faced in cases of remote rural areas where population is scattered. It becomes difficult to reach such communities and organize them to form groups so that they may benefit from communal water and sanitation projects.

Top