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1  Design and Implementation of a Water Kiosk System for 3 Water Services Providers

·  Naivasha Water and Sewerage Services Company

·  Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company

·  Mavoko – Epza Water and Sewerage Company

2  Town Section Data Report for the 3 Service Providers

3  Introduction

The Consultant visited all the 3 Water Services Providers to identify together with the WSP’s areas for the implementation of a water kiosk pilot project. The other objective was to train the staff of the WSP’s on how to collect demographic and socio-economic data in the low-income areas. This data shall enable the Service Providers calculate the number of water kiosks required in each area in order to meet the social, public health, technical, and commercial objectives of the Services Providers. These objectives are explained in detail in the Implementation Programme Document prepared by Han Seur in his February 07 mission. A number of areas were identified in all the project towns.

The staffs of the Services Providers were trained on how to collect these data using data collection tools prepared by the Consultant (see annexes).

The second round of visits was aimed at supervising data collection exercise, data analysis and possible sites for water kiosks.

·  This report consists of 3 parts. Part one discusses the Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company ,Part two deals with the situation in Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company whereas Part three deals with the situation in Mavoko – Epza Water and Sewerage Company

4  Data collection periods

Data collection periods

·  April 2007

Next updating:

·  April 2009

Part One: Naivasha WSSC

4.1  Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company

Contact persons:

Contact Persons

Mr. Daniel M. Ndiritu - Ag. Managing Director

Ms. Serah W. Gachihi - Public Relations

Mr. Humphrey Musava - Information Technology

Mr. M. Mugutu - Board Chairman NAIWASSCO

2 members of staff of Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company Ms Serah W. Gachihi and Mr. Humphrey Musava assisted by 3 local residents collected socio-economic and demographic data. We also conducted a water measuring exercise to determine per capita consumption. These data shall enable the team calculate the number of kiosks to be constructed in order to meet all project objectives (commercial, social, and public health and hygiene).

5  Background

6  Short description of the project areas

Data was collected in the three possible pilot project areas namely Karagita, Kabati, and County Council Estate Residential. Karagita is an informal settlement, the area has been sub-divided and land tenure is secured. Kabati is a planned area and land tenure is secured (people own the land legally) where as County Council Community Residential (CCCR) is a council housing area of low cost type.

History and layout

Naivasha town is located in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, westward about 89 km from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

7  Results of the water measurement exercise

A water measurement exercise was carried out in order to determine daily per capita consumption levels in the low cost areas of Naivasha. The measurement exercise was conducted in 2 compounds namely Kabati and C.C.C.R.

Table 1 shows the results of the measurement exercise in which 310 households participated.

Table 1: Results of the water measurement exercise

Name of peri-urban area: / Participating households / Persons for whom water was fetched / Water Consumption
Number / Number / Litres / Litres/person/day
Kabati / 245 / 1,024 / 12,790 / 12.5
C.C.C.R / 65 / 190 / 4,030 / 21.2
Total: / 310 / 1,214 / 16,820 / 13.9

Source: Taskteam NAIWASSCO

Table 1 shows that daily per capita consumption does not exceed 14 litres. These findings should have important implications for the planning of a kiosk system. In this context it is important to mention that the major source of water in most low cost areas is from Cart Vendors and private boreholes who are very expensive The tarriff at these sources is quite high ranging between KShs 3 and KShs 10. This means that with the introduction of water kiosks by the Service Provider whose tarriff is regulated, we expect per capita cosumption to increase as the tarriff is lower compared to Cart Vendors and private borehole operators.

7.1  Area level

7.1.1  Kabati

Kabati settlement is situated on the lower side of the Trans-African highway, about 500 metres from the town centre. Kabati is a mixed income area. There are medium as well as low income earners in the area. Given the situation, the housing is permanent with a few informal structures. The majority of the population is renting the houses they live in.

7.1.2  Administrative and legal status

The area is legalised and owners have letters of allotment from the Council and titles to the land. The area is planned and has accessible road network but not in good condition and no drainage.

8  Demographic data and developments

8.1  Current population of Kabati

The area has about 1301 developed plots most of which are occupied while a few are in the finishing stages of development. A plot count was conducted and average plot size sample was carried out (67 sample) by the taskteam inorder to estimate the population of the area.

According to the plot count and the plot sample to determine the average number of persons per plot, Kabati has 1,301 plots and an average plot size of 25 persons per plot. This means that the area has an estimated population of 32, 525 persons. The average plot size in Kabati is relatively high. This means that most plots or houses accommodate lodgers or tenants.

The area is expanding on the upper side where new developments are taking place and on its other sides it is surrounded by privately owned land. This means that the population is likely to grow in the coming years. Population growth, mainly as a result of high birth rates and immigration, will therefore result in densification (i.e. higher population densities). This process is already taking place, many houses accommodate more households as the average households per plot (number of kitchens per plot, data collection tool no. 1) is 8.4.

8.2  Patterns of migration

The current pattern of migration which results in the growth of the area is caused by a so-called “urban pull” resulting from the job opportunities in the flower farms. Most settlers coming to settle are from the rural areas and other towns to look for employment in the flower farms and others come for business.

8.3  Sources of income

Income levels are low and medium in Kabati. A majority of the adult male and female populations of the area do not have formal employment and lack regular sources of income. Most of the adults are working on casual basis in the flower farms, construction industry, and small businesses. Some residents are in formal employment (teachers, nurses, etc.) but a large majority of the adult population is active in the so-called informal sector of the economy. The main economic activities in which residents are involved are small scale trading. Some male residents derive a regular income from such skills as carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying.

8.4  Local organisations and projects

The Kenya Beautification and Crime Reduction Initiative (KEBCRI) are active in the area and their scope of work is the waste management collection. Residents pay KShs 50 per month for having their waste collected and disposed off. The area has two government primary schools and 1 private secondary school, and Naivasha District Hospital bordering with Kabati low cost area.

9  Current water supply situation

The Company’s network (piping) is limited with few lines in good working condition. A number of plots especially on the upper Kabati area, bordering Lakeview estate, have yard connections. The rest of the population mainly rely on Cart vendors who sell at KShs 5 per 20 litre container, or boreholes which are the other alternative. At the boreholes, which are privately owned, a 20 litre container costs KShs 3. If there is electricity power interruptions in the area, Cart Vendors double the price to about KShs 10 per 20 litre container.

9.1  Supply hours and interuptions

The Service Provider supplies the other part (upper Kabati) of the area with house connections totaling 55, and in the same area there are illegal connections as well.

The supply hours for the this area are 2.5 hours in a week. This means that the Service Provider only supplies water to the area 1 day for 2.5 hours in a week.

There are 5 Boreholes (Commercial) in Kabati area with 4 of them equipped with 3 taps each and the other with 4 taps. No treatment is carried out on the water by the borehole operators.

A number of plots have water storage tanks for rainwater. This is unreliable because Naivasha is a relatively dry place receiving low amounts of rainfall annually.

Table 2 shows water supply infrastructures and sources found within the area.

Table 2: Water supply in Kabati Area

Supply system/source / Number
House/yard connection / 55
Illegal connections / Many
Public taps/stand pipes / Nil
Water kiosks / 5 private boreholes
Hand pumps / Nil
Public open wells / Nil
Private yard wells / Many
Shallow dambo wells / Nil
Initiative leaks / Many
Other sources of water / Cart vendors

Source: Project Task team (NAIWASSCO)

5.3  Payment methods and systems

Residents pay KShs 3 per 20 litre container at all private boreholes and the rate is uniform. Cart vendors also charge KShs 5 per 20 litre container but their tariff fluctuates as earlier mentioned, (if there is no electricity the price goes up). House connections supplied by the Water Company pay a flat rate of KShs 21 per M3 per month.

10  Current sanitation and solid waste situation in Kabati

Some areas of Kabati are connected to the Company’s sewer line (Main) while others have improved latrines with a septic tank shared by all households on a plot. Others still have traditional pit latrines.

Drainage is poor in the area resulting in pools of rain water and waste- water. There are no solidwaste dumpsites and residents in some parts of the area throw waste anywhere.

10.1  Cleanliness of water supply infrastructures

The surroundings of the privately owned boreholes are not kept clean as there is no slab concrete on all the water points. This makes the fetching of water not friendly as clients stand in the mud.

11  Findings and recommendations

11.1  Introducing a kiosk system in Kabati

The analysis of the existing water supply and sanitation situation and the results of the demographic data collection exercise; indicate that a kiosk system is probably the best water supply solution for Kabati.

The community and the Mzee Wa Mtaa should be involved in the localisation of water kiosks and the recruitment of Water Vendors. They should also play an active role during the sensitisation campaign. In other words, a community participation approach should be part of the overall kiosk system concept. Close co-operation with Naivasha Municipal Council and the area leadership is also important in order to prevent political tensions that may be caused by local politicians. Interference by local politicians often tends to hamper development initiatives as some politicians try to “hijack” and even undermine projects and programmes. NAIWASSCO interventions are and should remain non-political. This can sometimes be achieved by ignoring the local political arena but in some cases depoliticising development programmes is realised by bringing together politicians of the various political parties in order to assure that everyone supports the objectives and activities of the project or programme. Some members of the task team believe that the latter option may work for Kabati.

11.2  Number of kiosks required

On the basis of:

·  The population data,

·  Consumption Per Capita (Water measurement exercise),

·  The number of alternative water sources (private boreholes, house connections),

We can conclude that a sustainable kiosk system, in other words a system, which is sustainable from a social, commercial, and public health point of view, would require the construction of 7 kiosks (in addition to the 5 private existing kiosks) spread in the area.

This means that in theory a total of 12 kiosks will be shared by approximately 32, 525 persons, in other words one kiosk for each 2,400 residents.

·  A kiosk has approximately 2,400 customers; this is so as a part of the area has been proposed for house connections. If we follow the normal criteria, there will be very few people using our kiosks because of other alternatives, and house connections being proposed for the other part in the same area. Demographic data used to calculate the number of kiosks required include the area being proposed for house connections as it is in the same area.

·  The price for a full 20-litre jerrycan (which contains approximately 24 litres) is 42 cents (approximately 21 KShs/m3),

Vendor income will be approximately ………../month …….Dr. your section.

The Consultant held discussions with the Managing Director and the Area Councillor; and the outcome of this meeting were that the other part of the area, residents will be supplied through house connections. The upper part of the area has few people as it is just coming up and that the income levels in this particular area are relatively high. Considering all these factors; we concluded that during the pilot project, we construct 3 water kiosks in the high density parts of the area. The other remaining number of water kiosks of 4 could be considered in the next funding, that is if the house connections being proposed by the Company is not implemented.