Cabinet Secretary for Water and Irrigation Eugene Wamalwa on Monday officially opened the inaugural Kenya Water Week at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The week-long event hosted by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, in partnership with the Council of Governors (CoG), the Water Sector Trust Fund (WSTF) and KEWASNET will run between November 21 and 25.
The Kenya Water Week is the first of its kind in the country and has brought together all key national stakeholders and leading development partners and practitioners from around the world to deliberate on the water sector development agenda, strategies and implementation challenges.
Speaking at the event, the CS said that there are emerging fears of trans-boundary waters becoming a source of conflict as water becomes scarce relative to demand.
He, however, added that there is an emerging experience of cooperation on trans-boundary waters, supporting regional integration as a driver of growth.
“To mitigate the potential risks, the development of trans-boundary water policy to facilitate effective management of trans-boundary waters has been finalized and approved. Concurrently, the sub-sector has initiated bilateral agreements through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with neighbouring countries to promote cooperative frameworks for sustainable management and equitable utilization of shared waters resources,” Wamalwa revealed.
The CS said that to achieve universal access to the water resource, political willingness from both National and County governments was required.
The Water Week is themed, From Aid to Trade: Enhancing Business Partnerships & Innovation for Sustainable Water and Sanitation provision in Africa, and will feature a business, exhibition and innovation challenge and as well as awards.