Alice Wahome has officially handed over the State Department for Irrigation and the State Department for Water and Sanitation docket to Zachariah Njeru.
Wahome is headed to the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
During the handover, Wahome expressed confidence that the incoming Water CS, Njeru, and his team would continue to deliver essential services to the people of Kenya.
Wahome highlighted several achievements during her tenure, particularly in water and sanitation, including an impressive increase in national water service coverage from 1% to 71%, resulting into a substantial reduction in waterborne diseases and subsequent healthcare expenses.
Additionally, national sanitation coverage rose to an impressive 67%, benefiting both urban and rural areas.
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“This improvement has played a crucial role in reducing waterborne diseases, saving significant healthcare costs, and protecting our environment from pollution,” she said.
Regarding irrigation, Wahome reported that 1,800 extra acres of land have been covered by irrigation systems in an effort to improve food security and provide a more reliable and constant food supply in the future.
Wahome stressed that this growth also benefited the economy, notably the agricultural sector, and provided farmers with various opportunities.
At the same time, she appointed four Chief Executive Officers to help with effective administration and improve the provision of services to the public to solve governance issues among state businesses under her ministry.
Furthermore, the Lands CS disclosed that her tenure had seen significant strides in water sector reforms, including submitting water amendment bills to parliament.
