Kericho: The Government’s investment in water infrastructure must translate into reliable services at the household level, Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai has said. Governor Mutai challenged water sector professionals to use sport, culture, and partnerships to accelerate Kenya’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) agenda.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Governor spoke at Kericho Teacher Training College (KTTC) while officially closing the 2026 Water and Sanitation Providers Association (WASPA) Games held under the theme ‘Developing WASH through Culture and Games.’ The event brought together more than 3,000 participants from 37 water and sanitation sector institutions. Dr. Mutai emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration in developing practical solutions to the challenges affecting water service delivery across the country.
He noted that while Kenya has continued to invest in water infrastructure, greater attention is needed on distribution networks and last-mile connectivity to ensure water reaches households, particularly in underserved communities. Dr. Mutai highlighted the significant challenge of distributing water to the villages and urged both national and county governments to prioritize resources for pipelines and distribution infrastructure. The impact of water investments should ultimately be measured by the number of people gaining access to reliable services.
Dr. Mutai also stressed the significance of improved access to water in contributing to better health, education, and household productivity, while reducing the burden on women and girls who often spend considerable time fetching water. He called for stronger collaboration between national and county governments in implementing water projects, especially those serving communities across administrative boundaries.
The Governor further urged counties to strengthen water service providers through adequate financing and professional management, emphasizing the need for financially stable utilities to maintain infrastructure and deliver sustainable services. He called for county governments to provide necessary resources and policy support while allowing technical teams to manage water utilities professionally.
Dr. Mutai encouraged water institutions to develop innovative and bankable projects capable of attracting support from development partners, particularly for expanding water and sanitation infrastructure. He emphasized the need for greater cooperation in protecting shared water resources, addressing issues such as pollution, catchment degradation, and cross-county water challenges with coordinated solutions.
The 2026 WASPA Games included participation from institutions such as Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency, Athi Water Works Development Agency, and the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority. Dr. Mutai stressed that the professional networks established during the games should be sustained beyond the sporting field through knowledge sharing, benchmarking, and joint initiatives aimed at improving service delivery.
The Governor commended WASPA, participating institutions, officials, and athletes for successfully organizing the event, showcasing how culture and sport can complement Government efforts to advance development. He challenged the water sector fraternity to carry the spirit of teamwork from the playing field into their workplaces and communities, with the goal of ensuring that safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services reach more Kenyans.
The conclusion of the games marked not only the end of a sporting event but a renewed call for the water sector to convert collaboration into practical action and ensure that Government investment in WASH delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
