GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR RURAL WATER REFORMS AFTER RECEIVING GOVERNANCE SURVEY

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called for urgent reforms in rural water management after a new survey revealed widespread inefficiencies in Makueni County’s rural water schemes.

The survey, conducted by Emali Dedicated Children’s Agency (EDCA) and presented to the governor on Wednesday, assessed the effectiveness of rural water governance structures in ensuring reliable water supply. The survey, which began in November 2024, found that despite strong stakeholder engagement, 90% of rural water projects are poorly managed, leading to frequent failures and denying communities access to safe water—with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Key findings indicate that mismanagement stems from lack of financial and technical expertise among local water committees.

To address these challenges, the report recommends:

Amending the Makueni Water Policy (2019) to formally institutionalize rural water governance; Automating water points and digitizing billing systems to reduce corruption; and introducing ATM-based payments to improve revenue collection and accountability.

Governor Mutula described effective water governance as the cornerstone of sustainable development, emphasizing the need for research-backed policies and partnerships with organizations like EDCA.