Lodwar, 15th August 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
Turkana water service providers’ officers have been trained on the customer-centred Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) standards to improve efficiency in water service delivery.
The training, supported by Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization (LOKADO) with funding from Welthungerhilfe Kenya (WHH), sought to strengthen regulatory compliance enforcement to enable the providers to reduce unaccounted-for water; non-revenue water (NRW).
The Turkana Rural Water and Sanitation Company (TURWASCO) and Kakuma Kalobeyei Lopur Letea Water and Sanitation Company (KALWASCO) officers underwent a four-day capacity-building training. The training focused on regulatory compliance, policy tools development, tariff-setting support, and licence application guidelines.
In his opening address, Assistant Director for Water Services George Aremon said that the water governance structure was in line with the Turkana County Water Act 2019, a move that has led to the formation of three water service providers. The third provider being Turkana County Urban Water and Sewerage Company (TUWASCO).
“The County’s vision is to create a water-secure county with strong governance structures that ensure improved, sustainable water services and reliable delivery for all residents,” he said.
Speaking during the training session, KALWASCO Managing Director Zacharia Etukon stated that the company could only account for 33% of its water, far below the WASREB regulation requirement of 80%.
He further noted that addressing compliance and policy gaps would enable the water service providers to take legal action against vandalism and illegal connections.
“Through the WASREB compliance and certification process, coupled with having clear policies, the providers will be able to deal with perpetrators,” said Etukon.
According to consultant facilitator Zacheus Okoth, the major challenge facing water utilities in the region was non-compliance with regulatory requirements. This, he added, hindered operational efficiency and limited access to critical support.
The sessions placed a strong emphasis on meeting the WASREB licensing guidelines, including master plan preparation, policy development, and regulatory certification application.
Dennis Esekon, Programme Manager at LOKADO, stated that the organisation would support the providers in attaining regulatory compliance and eventually WASREB certification.
“This is just the beginning of a new journey. We are here to fast-track the requirements needed for the providers to obtain their licences, from policy development and financial management to budgeting and asset management,” he said.
The training is expected to enable water service providers to align with national water sector standards, strengthen accountability, and expand access to safe and affordable water for the growing population in rural areas and Kakuma town.
