Aims
To support sector thinking and decision-making about appropriate design of the institutional framework for urban sanitation in post-devolution Kenya as the Ministry of Health develops the new National Environmental and Sanitation Bill.
Findings
Important limitations in Kenya’s newly decentralised sanitation frameworks were identified:
- There is considerate overlap and competition for sector leadership at national and devolved levels
- County governments are not adequately incentivised to commit attention and finance to sanitation
- There is limited oversight of on-site sanitation
Next steps
Continuous engagement with the government will be required as the Bill continues to be developed, ensuring that: commitment to pro-poor sanitation service delivery at decentralised levels increases; a new national sanitation coordination and regulatory body (NESCRA) is designed and structured appropriately; and proper oversight of on-site sanitation service provision is ensured.
As of early 2019, a number of important steps have been taken at the sub-national level in Counties like Nakuru, where a Countywide Inclusive Sanitation Strategy has been introduced and new Countywide Sanitation Steering Committee (NACOSTEC) is co-ordinating efforts to improve services.
Read more
- Briefing note: April 2018 – Strengthening Kenya’s institutions for urban sanitation
- Policy Brief: Sep 2018 – Strengthening Kenya’s institutional framework for urban sanitation
- Journal article (Development Policy Review): November 2018 – Reforming urban sanitation under decentralisation: Cross‐country learning for Kenya and beyond