The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a $100 million investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities in Kenya. The investment is part of the U.S. Government Global Water Strategy High Priority Country Plan for Kenya and aims to enhance access to clean water and sanitation facilities in the country over the next five years.
The plan will increase access to basic or improved water services for 1.6 million people and provide basic or improved sanitation to 1 million people. The investment will mobilize roughly $130 million for the sector and USAID will work with other organizations, governments, and communities to address the global water crisis.
Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) areas and the growing number of informal settlements face significant challenges in providing sustainable and affordable water and sanitation services. The high variability in rainfall across the country over the past three years has led to frequent and prolonged droughts and floods in some areas, exacerbating the challenges of water scarcity. Climate change is predicted to worsen this situation.
Ambassador Meg Whitman, who witnessed the impact of water security and access to sanitation on people’s lives, stated, “The issue of water security will remain a challenge in Kenya and around the world for the foreseeable future. By working together, we will find solutions.”
USAID’s investment is part of a global effort to reach universal coverage by 2030, which requires an additional $600 million annually.
