Kakuma, 1st August 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

A new water supply company to cater for the needs of Kakuma Municipality residents is at an advanced stage of being operationalized after stakeholders agreed to select a committee to oversee the recruitment of new board members.

The initiative, supported by USAID STAWI, is part of a broader strategy by the County Government to streamline water supply and meet the increasing demand.

During a stakeholders’ engagement in Kakuma, Patrick Losike Lokaimoe, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water Services, emphasized the importance of adhering to the legal frameworks and provisions set by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) concerning the composition of the selection committee.

CECM Lokaimoe announced that the company had been registered as KALWASCO, with one committee slot reserved for the Department of Refugees Services (DRS).

He assured that due diligence would be observed to ensure full representation from Kakuma, Kalobeyei, Letea, and Lopur wards, which will fall under KALWASCO’s jurisdiction.

“Once the selection committee is in place, they are expected to recruit a board of management for the water supply company,” stated CECM Lokaimoe.

A similar method was previously employed in the operationalization of both Turkana Urban and Rural Water companies, which led to the recruitment of five board members for each entity.

According to the Turkana Water Act of 2019, the five nominees selected by the committee will be joined by the Chief Officers for Water Services and Finance, forming a full board of seven members.

The stakeholders’ engagement saw participation from the Turkana West WASH partners forum, the public, faith-led organizations, professional groups, and UNHCR.

The autonomous water supply company will be the third in Turkana motivated by the need to advance the Ushirika plan in which the County is using an approach that Integrates service provision for the host and refugee communities residing in the area.