Kenya national water development report : prepared for the 2nd UN world water development report : water: a shared responsibility (2006)

Kenya, selected by the United Nations to participate in the World Water Assessment Programme, is a water scarce country with only 647 cubic metres of renewable freshwater per capita. It is characterized by high spatial and temporal variability and extremes of droughts and floods. In some parts of the country water scarcity has reached a stage where it becomes a limiting factor for economic development. In those areas conflicts have risen amongst the various competing sectors and users of water. Prior to 2002 water resource management responsibilities were fragmented amongst several agencies, resulting into a multiplicity of institutions all claiming responsibility of the management of the same resource.
With the support of UNESCO, Kenya developed a monitoring, evaluation and reporting system and prepared subsequently a National Water Development Report for input to the World Water Development Report.
This water resources monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework involves the following activities : 1) the development of water sector goals and subsequent monitoring indicators for determining progress made in the MDGs and other goals as set out in the national strategic plans 2) creating, strengthening, maintaining, managing, modernizing information, data capture and processing at all appropriate national levels, 3) appointing focal points to monitor the indicators agreed upon, 4) formulation of a reporting process for the dissemination of information to the public on water issues thereby ensuring their support in water resources management, 5) the preparation of the NWDR, which is considered as a mechanism for periodical reporting on progress against set targets.