Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company, in collaboration with USAID STAWI, orchestrated a Dynamic Collaborative Workshop held from the 25th to the 26th of July 2023 at the Jirime Resort in Marsabit. The gathering aimed to furnish a comprehensive understanding of the county’s landscape, dimensions, and project priorities, all in anticipation of the forthcoming initiatives by DAI USAID STAWI.
This confluence convened a spectrum of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating throughout the County, including prominent entities like Caritas Marsabit, PACIDA, SND, WFP, NAWIRI, Livestock Market System, Food for the Hungry (FH), and Concern Worldwide.
The sessions encompassed an expansive spectrum of pivotal subjects, ranging from the historical underpinnings of Marsabit County to an intricate scrutiny of the economic planning reforms enacted by the decentralized governance, elucidating the rationale steering these reforms.
DAI USAID STAWI is deeply vested in facilitating water provisions catering to domestic, commercial, and productive usage. Collaborating with the Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company, this endeavor falls under the aegis of the Department of Water, Environment, and Natural Resources, all with the overarching goal of furnishing the residents of Marsabit County with a bounteous supply of clean, safe, and ample drinking water.
The STAWI program stands committed to collaborating with established partners to reshape the prevailing landscape, disrupting the cycle of drought and the insecurities revolving around water and sustenance, all while birthing a sustainable trajectory of development.
The STAWI program’s blueprint for sustainable, transformational, and accessible water interventions in Marsabit County hinges on the management of natural resources, rejuvenation, and safeguarding of green energy, in a resolute quest for the endurance of clean water provisioning.
Amidst its priorities, STAWI will channel investments into cost-efficient green energy to ameliorate the operational costs of existing pumped systems, harnessing the prowess of solarization to bestow clean and renewable energy.
“Climate change wields immense influence over water and food security. Disregarding its implications amounts to denial. The gravitas of climate change is a tangible challenge we must squarely confront,” remarked Mr. Robert Kisyula, Chief of Party at STAWI USAID.
Derived from the co-creation workshop, the program intends to forge a collaborative action plan, a pact sealed between the county government and STAWI, forming the bedrock for participatory involvement within Marsabit County, where all stakeholders, including community members, are integral.
Marsabit County is slated to receive a performance-based grant of 24 million dollars from USAID STAWI, earmarked for execution across 9 counties nationwide. These strategic projects, determined in coordination with the Department of Water and the Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company, serve as pivotal stepping stones.
This transformation rests upon investments in policy, planning, infrastructure, and governance coordination to reposition water as an elemental life staple in Marsabit County.
The renewed emphasis on arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) counties, endowed with expansive landscapes often constrained by water scarcity, will potentially revolutionize the status quo of water and food security within Kenya.
Nonetheless, the onus of identifying water resources and opportunities to ensure the availability of water as an essential human necessity rests primarily with the county government.
Authored by:
Corporate Communication,
Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company.
