WRMA Legal Framework to Rules and Regulations Development

The Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) was established in November 2003 to be the lead agency with respect to water resources management in Kenya. The Water Act 2002 charges the WRMA with the following powers and functions: Water allocation and apportionment; Monitor and assess the national water resources management strategy; receive and determine water permit applications; Monitor and enforce conditions attached to the permits; Regulation and protection of water resource quality from adverse impacts; Management and protection of water catchments; Determine charges for water resources; Gather and maintain information on water resources and to publish information on the same; Coordination with other bodies for better water resources management; And advising the Minister with respect to water resources management. The Water Act 2002 empowers WRMA to prepare and have gazetted rules and regulations that give effect to the Water Act 2002.

The main objective of this assignment was to support the WRMA to finalise new rules and regulations for the improved management of water resources within Kenya. The purpose was based on the need: to limit the burden of administering and enforcing the rules; to ensure an adequate degree of regulatory control is created in respect of protection of water resources, optimal water use and equitable allocation; to make rules and regulations reasonable and practical; and to make the rules and regulations clear and understandable to the public.