Stronger service providers, better services for all in Naivasha
Kenya,
concluded
The project, in collaboration with Vitens Evides, brought improved water and sanitation services to 70,000 people in Naivasha, Kenya.
The project 'Stronger Service Providers, Better Services for all in Naivasha' was initially a four-year project (2012-2016), that was extended for two years, concluding on 31 August 2018. The project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya and is implemented by Vitens Evides (lead partner) in partnership with SNV (capacity development partner) and Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (pro-poor services partner). In terms of results, so far the project has benefited over 70,000 people with improved water and sanitation services.
The Naivasha Water Sewerage and Sanitation Company (NAIVAWASS) draws its water from boreholes that are connected to Lake Naivasha. Wastewater discharge and poor sanitation practices pollute the lake and ground water in the area. Water services provision to Naivasha town is currently hampered by low production and high distribution inefficiencies. In 2011, only 17% production capacity of the 9 operational boreholes was being achieved as a result of unpaid electricity bills and dysfunctional pumps, leading to poor customer satisfaction.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the provision of water and sanitation services to residents of Naivasha sub-county (148,868) with a particular focus on sustainability of services, governance and improved access for the (peri-) urban poor. The key outcomes are: increased access to sustainable and affordable water supply services by NAIVAWASS in Naivasha town; sustained collection, treatment and discharge of sewage from sewered areas in Naivasha town; increased access to sustainable and affordable water supply and sanitation services in 10 (peri-) urban Low Income Areas of Naivasha municipality; and improved water sector governance and scaling-up of best practices in Naivasha and the larger Nakuru County. More specifically, the project aims to:
Increase access to sustainable & affordable water supply services by NAIVAWASS in Naivasha town
Improve collection, treatment and discharge of sewage from areas with sewer connections in Naivasha town
Increase access to sustainable & affordable water supply and sanitation services to 10 low income peri-urban communities of Naivasha sub-county and the larger Nakura county
Support Naivasha Water sector governance and upscaling towards 2020
The project provides support to NAIVAWASS to implement good corporate governance practices and consumer engagement approaches as recommend by the regulator. Improving NAIVAWASS’s communications will help shape customers' expectations. Their feedback will be used to improve the companies' service quality with the aim to increase customers' satisfaction.
SNV’s focus is to promote Water Operator Partnerships to increase the sharing of experience and knowledge between water companies. Our support to the NAIVAWASS Board of Directors and Management to internalise and implement corporate governance guidelines, will be used as a best practice in other towns in the service area of the Rift Valley Water Services Board. We spearhead the documentation of best practices and ensure the prioritisation and implementation of concrete measures to improve operational efficiencies, revenue collection and on sustaining achieved service level improvements. Other interventions, will focus on improving reliability of the boreholes and and minimising the impact of the boreholes on the groundwater aquifer around the lake.
In terms of results, so far the project has benefited over 70,000 people with improved water and sanitation services during the project period (55,000 have improved access to clean water; 16,200 households have access to improved sanitation services). In addition, the hours of supply have increased from 2 hours at the start of the project to 6 hours per day; revenue collection has risen from from KES 2M to about 7M per month; O&M cost recovery improved from 47% in 2011 (baseline) to 95% (2015); improved customer satisfaction index from 59% (2013 baseline) to 73% in 2014; and improved corporate governance practices; among other key outcomes.
