PROMOTING INTEGRITY TO IMPROVE WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES AND ENSURE SECTOR IS RESPONSIVE TO CITIZENS
DATES
2011-Current
LOCATION(S)
Kenya
PARTNERS
KEWASNET, WASREB, CESPAD, KWAHO, NIA, WSTF
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
WIN and partners have been working in Kenya since 2011 to promote water integrity and reduce the risk of corruption in the water and sanitation sectors. We work with civil society organisations and major sector institutions. Our focus is to build awareness for integrity and work with integrity champions throughout the country to advocate and hold decision-makers accountable.
Our activities include ground-up engagement with media, sector stakeholders, and leaders. This work builds on research in public financial management, and integrity and performance of CSOs and sector stakeholders. and includes structured ground-up engagement with stakeholders.
We have also focused on how community water management committees and small rural system operators are regulated and how they can improve the ways they are organised, manage their finances, and communicate with users. Over 87 community groups have applied the Integrity Management Toolbox for Small Water Supply Systems (IMT-SWSS) in programmes supported by WASREB and the Water Sector Trust Fund.
HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING
In a first study of its kind in Kenya, endorsed by both the Kenya Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the Council of Governors, the Pipes, Policy, and Public Money report shows how integrity in public financial management can be strengthened to increase WASH sector efficiency and accountability towards citizens, looking at key risks and ‘leaks’ in the system as it is now administered at devolved level. Bridging the gap between policy and practice, and between the WASH and public finance sectors, the reports also looks at root problems and why budget tracking is so complex, in terms of IT systems, reporting, and responsibilities.
We have worked closely with the national water regulator to define clearer management models for rural water supply and capacitate local community water committees. WASREB has also adopted mechanisms and indicators in its oversight of service providers to incentivise integrity.
At least 87 community groups have applied the Integrity Management Toolbox for Small Water Supply Systems (IMT-SWSS) and developed action plans to make their governance and finances more transparent and effective. In Kericho county for example, levels of consumer satisfaction with the services provided by the Water Committees in several communities saw a dramatic increase. There was also a boost in confidence from community members that their fees were being used in the right manner, as well as a better understanding of fees and prices, resulting in an increase in willingness to pay.
Major radio campaigns in Nakuru, Makueni and Kajiado focused on integrity with input from integrity champions and partners (inluding on specific initiatives like the risk assessment of the Mwache dam development in Kwale or the results of integrity surveys in Kajiado), promoted water and sanitation as human rights, and answered caller questions. The radio shows also clarify roles and responsibilities and explain avenues for participation and complaint mechanisms. They have had an influence on public debate.
Trained community integrity champions and youth parliaments in multiple counties are monitoring water and sanitation developments and providing input to decision-makers. In some counties, like Nyamira, the youth parliaments have influenced leaders in prioritisation of resources for water resource management and spring protection. At national level, youth parlimament members and partners worked to monitoring election promises and lobby political leaders on accountability.
PUBLICATIONS
Research
On service delivery in informal settlements
On public financial management
Integrity management and community work
On working in small communities with the IMT-SWSS
On working with Water Resource User Associations
FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED
Contact our programme coordinator:
