MARSABIT, Kenya -The county government of Marsabit, through the Department of Water, Environment, and Natural Resources, has formally informed all residents, development partners, and sector stakeholders that a significant and all-encompassing exercise is being undertaken with the goal of advancing governance, optimising management, and ensuring the sustainability of its vital water resources.
Y News understands that Marsabit County faces water challenges, including scarcity and difficulties in borehole drilling due to unstable volcanic formations in high-altitude areas. Despite these obstacles, the government is implementing solutions, such as boreholes with high water yields.
The county government struggles with various issues in the water and sanitation sector. Addressing these challenges is critical for providing residents with access to clean water.
The KDF, in partnership with the National Drought Management Authority and the County Government of Marsabit, officially launched water trucking initiatives at Dadach Lakole in Butiye. The event was attended by Mr. Kello Harsama, the PS of ASALs and Regional Development.
However, according to the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Water, Environment, and Natural Resources, Grace Galmo Boru, the regional government has made significant investments in drilling, outfitting, and putting into service a massive network of boreholes throughout the vast Marsabit region since the onset of devolution.
“Today, Marsabit County has more than 200 boreholes, which are the lifeblood of the people and their animals and are frequently the only reliable sources of water in this difficult and dry environment,” said Boru.
What has hindered the governance of the communal water points
Boru regretted that the lack of an integrated accountability structure governing water resource management, financial oversight, and environmental safeguards has hindered the governance of the communal water points despite these investments.
“The sustainability and dependability of these vital resources have also been weakened by fragmented data, ambiguous roles, and uneven monitoring,” added the CECM.
Recognising the urgency of addressing these gaps, the county government is taking decisive action to enhance the governance architecture for water service delivery across the county.
To this end, the Department of Water, Environment, and Natural Resources, in a strategic collaboration with Pastoralist Community Initiative Development and Assistance (PACIDA), embarked upon a thorough and far-reaching data collection exercise that started on April 22, 2025.
To all Engineers, is there nothing that can be done to harvest these waters and rehabilitate the vast Marsabit Country?Recall, Marsabit County is larger than Rwanda and Burundi combined!
This exercise, spanning a full two-week period, is set to comprehensively assess and catalogue every borehole across the county.
Spearheaded by a team of technical experts from the county headquarters, the exercise will be carried out in close coordination with the sub-county water officers, who will provide insights and on-the-ground expertise from all four sub-counties.
“The primary objective of this exercise is to register every borehole into the official government database in compliance with directives from the National Water Regulator (WASREB) and the provisions of the National Water Act, 2016, and the Marsabit County Water and Sewerage Services Act, 2018,” added Boru.
How will the department examine and validate the exercise’s results
Future investments, support systems, and service delivery initiatives will be more effectively directed with the help of accurate data.
“We thus seek the complete cooperation of all borehole management committees and Water Users Associations with the technical teams. Important records, such as registration certificates and any other pertinent data relating to their boreholes, will be required from associations,” the CECM added.
Y News understands that the department will organise a stakeholder validation forum to examine and validate the exercise’s results after the fieldwork is over. A thorough report will then be put together and given to the county legislature and executive committee.
Today, alongside the Managing Director and team from Marwasco, I had the opportunity to visit Bakuli, Marsabit’s vital water source nestled deep in Marsabit Forest. We inspected the recent desilting work and I was also briefed on the successful repair of the rising mains. I’m
To ensure complete compliance with the National Water Act and pertinent WASREB regulations, Boru indicated that the study will be a crucial point of reference for the examination of the current policies and legislative framework.
The county government hopes to enhance service delivery, fortify community water point management structures, and advance Marsabit County’s transition to self-reliance and resilience in water resource management through this purposeful professionalisation process.
“For the benefit of the people of Marsabit as a whole, we urge all stakeholders—communities, development partners, and leaders—to support this crucial activity,” said Boru.
