The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) is entering a bold new chapter under the leadership of Acting Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) Eng. Julius K. Mugun.
With a sharpened focus on governance, reversing the decline in per capita water storage, strengthening flood control, and rolling out programs that address the impacts of climate change, Mugun is steering Kenya towards a more secure and sustainable water future.
Economic Transformation
Under the Chief Executive Officer, the authority has already unveiled the Strategic Plan 2023–2027, a blueprint that targets increasing the nation’s water storage by 125 million cubic metres within the next four years. The plan is aligned to Vision 2030 and the government’s Bottom Up Economic transformation agenda, placing strong emphasis on climate resilience, food security, and universal access to safe water.
“Our mission is clear: restore confidence in this institution while ensuring every Kenyan has access to clean and sustainable water,” Mugun told Nairobi Daily.Governance Reforms
Mugun has introduced tighter oversight with the adoption of Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) to improve transparency in tenders. New monitoring and evaluation frameworks are in place to ensure that resources are used efficiently, deadlines are met, and projects are delivered without unnecessary leaks or delays.
Climate Adaptation & Flood Control Projects
The Authority has signed a partnership with Dredge Masters Kenya to desilt dams and dredge flood-prone rivers—especially in western Kenya and Nyanza, where rivers such as Nyando and Nzoia have repeatedly overflowed. This work aims to restore natural river courses and reduce the risk of flooding.
Dyke Construction & Back-flow Protection
A major flood control dike along River Nzoia in Budalangi, Busia County, has been completed, protecting over 70,000 people and reclaiming more than 20,000 acres of agricultural land previously affected by backflow from Lake Victoria. Several schools, health facilities, and trading centers are now safer thanks to the project.
Additionally, inspection of the Musoma extension dyke shows that a 300-metre section has already been completed ahead of the long rains, with further work underway to cover remaining sections.
Catchment Restoration & Tree Planting
Communities have been mobilized for catchment restoration, with thousands of seedlings planted in water tower regions and flood-prone zones—including around Kiserian Dam, Umaa Dam, Siyoi-Muruny, and areas such as Budalangi, Kanyaboli, and Kipsitet. These efforts support flood mitigation, erosion control, and biodiversity restoration.
Infrastructure & Adaptation Targets
Under its climate change adaptation strategy, NWHSA aims by 2026 to construct and maintain 70 km of dykes, develop 125 small dams and pans, and drill 203 boreholes as part of its flood-drought resilience portfolio.
Restoring Trust
Once bedeviled by frequent criticism over delayed projects and financial mismanagement, the Authority under Mugun is now making visible strides in delivering on promises. Stakeholders say his leadership is setting a new standard of accountability and results.
As Kenya continues to grapple with changing climate patterns and unpredictable weather, Mugun’s renewed focus on water storage, flood control, governance, and climate adaptation offers a hopeful pathway forward—one grounded not just in vision, but in measurable action.
