A major warning is issued: illegal water abstraction is rising, and consequences will be swift and severe. The Water Resources Authority (WRA) has sounded the alarm, stressing that perpetrators will face strict action as enforcement tightens. During a press briefing on December 10, WRA Chairman Donald Murgor and CEO Mohamed Shurie explained that many offenders attempt to draw water without proper permits or fail to comply with permit requirements.
“This government is serious about ensuring every Kenyan can access clean water, and this is our role as the Water Resources Authority,” Murgor stated, urging the public to follow established regulations. He warned that non-compliance could deprive many Kenyans of a vital resource, especially in a country already facing water scarcity.
Kenya is among the world’s more water-scarce nations, with a freshwater replenishment rate of about 647 m³ per person annually, well below the global benchmark of 1,000 m³. This scarcity contributes to reduced water availability for homes and productive activities, more frequent extreme weather events, and the depletion of natural resources.
Inadequate infrastructure—such as insufficient wells, boreholes, and water treatment facilities—further hampers access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) recognizes the right to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right. Yet, around 32 percent of Kenyans still struggle to access dependable sources of safe drinking water. Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030, underscoring the importance of prioritizing measures to achieve this goal.
The country’s main drinking-water sources include piped water, boreholes with pumps, protected springs and wells, rainwater, and bottled water.
Murgor noted several incidents of non-compliance with water laws and added that some people try to obtain water for free. He urged adherence to the permitting system, reminding everyone that water is scarce and must be conserved to ensure it remains available for all.
Under the Water Act 2016, anyone convicted of an offense faces a fine of up to one million shillings, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, unless a different penalty is prescribed for the offense.
Shurie emphasized concerns about political actors who influence or encourage others to ignore regulations. He refuted claims that WRA personnel vandalize equipment, citing a case in Kieni, Nyeri County where abstractors were urged to violate directives and undermine lawful water management efforts. He warned that leaders of private entities found to have violated regulations—those whose permit applications were issued but breached rules—will be prosecuted. In government institutions, managing directors could be held responsible for violations of the Water Regulations, 2016.
The WRA reminded all water users that any non-compliance with the Water Act 2016 and its regulations constitutes an offense and will trigger enforcement actions under the law. Violations threaten water-resource sustainability, fairness in allocation, and the well-being of communities, ecosystems, and future users.
The authority communicates directly with permit holders and urges those with valid permits to regularize abstraction, while individuals without valid permits should visit local WRA offices or use the e-permitting system to apply. Those with expired permits should apply for renewal.
The Water Act 2016 provides the legal framework for regulating, managing, and developing water resources and water-sewerage services. It places water-related responsibilities on both county and national governments and established two regulatory bodies: the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and the Water Services Regulatory Board (WSRB). The WRA’s mandate includes regulating the management, protection, conservation, and use of water resources and ensuring an equitable distribution of available water through data-driven, science-based decision-making and a transparent, accountable water-use-permitting system. Kenya’s National Water Master Plan 2030 guides sustainable water-resource management, emphasizing accurate data on availability, quality, and vulnerability (considering climate change), and proposing strategies such as water-saving technologies, public awareness campaigns, and efficient water-pricing mechanisms.
