The County and Community Engagement Division is key in water resource management, it is the core that engages Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) in implementing integrated water resource activities. The Division is charged with the responsibility of translating water resources science to communities to implement water resources activities, climate change flood management and livelihood for sustainability. It integrates and relates with hydrologists, engineers, geologists, water rights, water resources data specialist in undertaking water resources activity implementation by the WRUAs from project identification to sustainable management of completed projects.

The County and Community Engagement Division established in WRA as the division responsible for County and Community engagement as per the Authority’s mandate under section 13 (2 ) (b) and section 29 (1) of the Act.Functions

• Coordinate the activities of WRUAs, BWRC and Counties
• Development of frameworks, strategies, procedure, guidelines, standards for community BWRC and Counties, WRUAs operation engagement
• Coordinate the development and approval of sub basin plans to be in line with the National Water Resources Strategy and CIDPs.
• Formulate regulation on catchment management and protection of vulnerable ecosystems.
• Develop regulation on establishment of WRUAs 29(1) and BWRC operational manual
• Establish a national WRUA register
• Develop user-friendly and sustainability driven guideline/s to application on Water catchment management (conservation and protection)
• Develop procedures of funding framework for WRUAs
• Designate WRUA coverage areas for the purposes of Water resource management
• Liaise with WSTF and other stakeholders on the funding of community water resources initiatives and programs.
• Linkage between county government soil and water conservation initiatives and water resources programs
• Monitor implementation of the Basin Area Water Resources Management Strategy and basin plans

What is a WRUA

A Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) is an association of water users, riparian land owners and other stakeholders who have formally and voluntarily associated for the purposes of co-operatively sharing, managing and conserving common water resources.Is a WRUA registered by WRA.

A WRUA should seek legal registration as an Association under the Societies Act. A legally registered WRUA can register with WRA which denotes official WRA recognition of the WRUA.Objectives and Functions WRUA

•  Promote controlled and legal water use activities.
•  Promote good management practices to make efficient and sustainable use of the water resource.
•  Promote water conservation practices to ensure sufficient practices that meet the demands of the environment, the wildlife, the livestock and all the communities who rely on the water resource.
•  To work towards reducing conflict in the use of water resources and participate in solving other conflicts that arise.
•  Promote catchment conservation measures to improve water quantities and quality.

Who can become a member of the WRUA?

•  Riparian landowners or their representatives.
• Any abstractor (someone who has or should have a water permit) including water service providers, irrigators,industrial users, etc. even if the supply is outside the catchment boundary.
•  Representatives of the people that draw water directly from the water body (that is, without any water supply scheme) or water their livestock at the resource.
• Special interest groups, technical advisers and/or government officials who are requested by the Associations to serve in the interests of the Associations as “observer-members.”

What activities can be undertaken by WRUAs?

• Resolve conflicts arising from water use.
• Development of a Sub Catchment Management Plan (SCMP).
• Monitoring water resource availability, quality and use.
• Protection and conservation of the catchment and the resource.
• Ensuring compliance with the Water Act 2002 and Water Resource Rules 2007.
•  Exchange of information and ideas on water resource use
• Spring protection & Livelihoods
• Gabion construction by WRUA members

Who funds the WRUAs?

WRUAs are funded by the Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF) through the WRUA Development Cycle (WDC) Framework. This framework ensures transparency and accountability on the WRUA funded projects. It also provides operational guidelines and entails training modules on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). WRUAs can also be engaged and funded by County Governments and any other development partner using the framework.Geographical extent of the WRUA

WRA has delineated the whole country into catchments and sub-catchments and defines a WRUA coverage area as a sub-catchment or hydrological extent of a water resource. Maps of WRUA coverage areas are available at all WRA offices.Sustainability

The capacity to mobilize internal funds is the most sustainable and easily attainable option for any WRUA to survive. Internal funds can be mobilized through registration fees, annual subscription, membership, income generating activities undertaken by WRUA etc.Can WRUAs engage in Livelihood activities within their sub catchments?

WRUAs can engage in Livelihood Activities that promote catchment protection and conservation. Livelihood activities encouraged for catchment conservation and protection include:

•  Bee keeping
•  Goat rearing
•  Tree nurseries
•  Rabbit rearing
•  Poultry rearing etc

How will I know whether there is a WRUA in my community?

For more information on how to form or support a WRUA please contact the WRA Sub Region office near you or visit: www.wra.go.ke