Delivering WASH services in a devolved context: the experience of Kenya

Kenya’s agitation for a new constitution and for the devolution of powers away from a centralized government has been about equitable sharing of resources and bringing services closer to the people. Following a highly-contested election in 2007, the push for a new constitution hit a crescendo and in 2010, Kenya promulgated a new constitution that has been widely hailed as one of the most progressive in the world. The new constitution took effect in 2013, and has tremendously upset the old order. Whilst the devolution process provides a unique window of opportunity to support the acceleration of access to sanitation, if not well managed, it could significantly roll back the gains that have been made over the years. This paper seeks to examine Kenya’s journey in setting up the required institutional mechanisms in a devolved context to attain the now constitutional right to sanitation.