Kenyan user group develops flourishing water management system

Meet the Ngusishi Water Resources Users Association (WRUA) where self-determination, dialogue, and innovative partnerships are at the heart of its management and operations. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, many water-related conflicts in the area have been resolved. Water now reaches downstream users. And innovative partnerships with commercial enterprises are being explored, showing the transformative contributions public-private partnerships can make.

Effective management of water resources

First established as a self-help group in response to increasing tensions and conflicts over water access, the Ngusishi WRUA became a registered community-based organisation (CBO) in 2003. Currently, it manages 20 water projects, serving at least 10,000 people.

Members receive regular training from government departments, including water testing services, to enhance their expertise. With farmers, its members promote water conservation, protection, and restoration practices. Rivers are monitored for illegal abstraction. And when faced with water shortage, the Ngusishi WRUA activates a rotational system, which has been agreed upon with all water users.

A mutually beneficial partnership

The Ngusishi WRUA has a strong partnership with enterprising Timaflor farm, a rose exporter and major water user in the area. This collaboration has led to the construction of office buildings for the WRUA and the installation of boreholes for local schools. In return, an arrangement for Timaflor's water supply has been brokered with the WRUA, which involves a combination of metered boreholes, rainwater harvesting, and seasonal floodwater.

Building on the WRUA’s achievements

The Ngusishi WRUA serves as a shining example of effective water resource management, but it is not free from sustainability challenges. Water scarcity is a pressing issue, not only in the area but nationwide. Kenya is among the most ‘water-scarce areas across the world with a per capita availability below 1000m³ annually.’ Water quality and pollution are priority issues that deserve greater attention locally, nationally, and globally. And the search for sustainable financing modalities must continue, exploring, for example, a mix of tariff adjustments, capital investment from public and private entities, etc.

Through dialogue, collaboration, and innovative partnerships, the Ngusishi WRUA and its partners have transformed rural communities’ and entrepreneurs’ access to water. It is essential that the CBO receives adequate support to continue and expand its services. Communities and other local governments can also draw inspiration from their success story for replication or adaptation.