Kakuma, 12th September 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Thousands of refugees residing in Kakuma Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement are set to benefit from the K-WASH initiative, a six-year, World Bank-funded “Performance for Results (P4R) program aimed at improving sustainable access to water services in rural and arid regions across Kenya.
During a meeting attended by representatives from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), and the County Government of Turkana, K-WASH officials announced that the program has allocated up to USD 20 million to benefit Turkana and Garissa counties, Kenya’s two main refugee-hosting regions.
Patrick Losike Lokaimoe, Turkana County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water Services, lauded the initiative for aligning with the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and Kenya’s Refugee Act of 2021, which advocate for the long-term integration of refugees into host communities.
“This program signifies a shift from purely humanitarian responses to fostering long-term integration of refugees with host communities,” said CECM Lokaimoe.
He urged K-WASH implementers to prioritize building the capacity of the newly established Turkana West Water and Sanitation Company (KALWASCO) to ensure equitable water access for both host and refugee populations in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, Lokichoggio, Letea, and Lopur.
Nanduri Sateesh, head of the Kakuma Sub-office (HSO), welcomed the K-WASH initiative, stating that it supports UNHCR’s efforts to provide integrated and sustainable water and sanitation services.
“This aligns with the goals of the Shirika Plan, which aims to close water access gaps for both refugee and host communities. We hope this initiative will bridge those gaps and fully unlock water access for all,” said Sateesh.
The meeting also underscored the importance of adhering to international standards and national regulations, including guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kenyan Constitution, on the right to water and sanitation services.
Among the attendees were Tito Ochieng, K-WASH Coordinator for Turkana; Edwin Chabari, DRS Camp Manager; Ereng David from DRS; J. Oroche, Deputy County Commissioner for Turkana West; and representatives from the World Bank, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation (MoWSI), and UNHCR’s WASH department.
