Case Study of the Day: New Water Police- Kenya

Background: Kenya’s newly-launched Water Police Unit (WPU), aimed at protecting water towers and water infrastructure, can be a game changer in response to water insecurity in the country and across east Africa.

About Kenya’s Water Police Unit (WPU)

• The government formed the specialized Water police unit to curb the rising cases of vandalism and theft of the country’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure.
• Factors that pushed the government to form WPU:
  • The numerous failed attacks targeted at water facilities and attempts by criminals seeking to access the infrastructure.
  • Government losing $80 million annually due to non-revenue water.
  • Other issues include non-payment of water bills, and wrong metering.
• Benefits of forming WPU:
  • Move will go a long way in protecting water towers, catchment areas and infrastructure, while mitigating risks of disease outbreak and drought.
  • Increase the volume of available water, guaranteeing a steady supply of the scarce commodity and ensuring Kenya achieves its development goals in agriculture and food production, health and sanitation targets.
  • Help bridge the difference between production and demand, which has been widening due to population growth, the inadequacy of the carrying capacity of the distribution network and climate shocks.
  • Advance the government’s socio-economic transformation agenda through the delivery of more water and irrigation projects across the country.
• Thus, the formation of WPU will complement Kenya’s Climate Change efforts, while channelising resources into agriculture to ensure Food Security.

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