By Joshua Otieno | April 9, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Felix Koskei has issued a firm directive demanding immediate and far-reaching reforms in Kenya’s water and sanitation sector, warning that continued inefficiency will no longer be tolerated.
The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service delivered the warning during a high-level performance review, describing the current state of service delivery as unacceptable despite years of heavy public investment.
Koskei emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental right and a critical pillar of public health, insisting that government agencies must shift focus from paperwork to real results on the ground.
“The era of excuses is over.”
The directive targets underperforming Water Service Providers (WSPs) and regional water agencies accused of failing to maintain infrastructure and expand access to millions of Kenyans.
Under the new accountability framework, officials will be evaluated based on actual water delivery to households, schools, and hospitals—not reports or completed project paperwork.
“The government will no longer accept reports that do not translate into service for wananchi.”
The reform agenda is anchored on three key pillars aimed at stabilizing the sector by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
First, the government will intensify efforts to curb “non-revenue water,” which includes losses caused by leakages, outdated infrastructure, and illegal connections—currently estimated to account for nearly 45 percent of water production in some regions.
Second, there will be a strategic shift from launching new projects to rehabilitating existing infrastructure such as boreholes, treatment plants, and distribution networks that have fallen into disrepair.
Third, the directive seeks to streamline coordination between national and county governments to eliminate bureaucratic delays that have historically slowed service delivery.
In a parallel move, Koskei also recommended the suspension of several senior officials within the Ministry of Water, including Fredrick Mwamati, to pave the way for investigations into alleged procurement irregularities.
“The era of excuses is over. Every shilling invested must translate into a drop of water in a Kenyan’s home.”
The sweeping directive signals a broader government push to enforce accountability and restore efficiency in essential public services, with officials now under pressure to deliver measurable results or face disciplinary action.
