Definitions

An improved water service must meet all of the following criteria:

Typology - use one of the following water point typologies:

• A metered connection to a piped water system at a household's yard or house.
• A yard tap shared by more than one household.
• A water kiosk with a public tap or standpipe connection; and
• A hand pump shared by more than one household. Where a hand pump is fitted to a hand dug well, the well must be lined with cast in place or pre-cast concrete, brick or stone, and fully covered with a slab.

Service radius – households served must be within 500m for non-Arid Counties and 1,000m for Arid Counties.

Flow rate - a water point must have a minimum flowrate of 0.16 litres per second. Where water rationing is in place, a household must have access to at least 20 litres of water per household member per day from the water point, held in storage containers.

Water from the source must be available year round, including in the dry and rainy seasons.

Water quality:

Upon development of the water scheme, the water quality must be certified as fit for human consumption according to the Kenyan drinking water quality standards (Adopted from KS 05-459: Part 1:1996) issued by WASREB. For an existing water source that has been developed before the start of the Program, the water quality must be checked at the time of completion of rehabilitation/expansion of the water scheme.

Water supplied must be certified as fit for human consumption by an accredited water testing laboratory, according to the Kenyan drinking water quality standards (Adopted from KS 05-459: Part 1:1996) issued by WASREB dated within the last three months, based on one sample taken from the trunk main, and four samples at different points of distribution (kiosks and household connections). For water kiosks that have chlorine dispensers for users to add chlorine to their water at collection, the water sample will be taken from the tap before any chlorine has been added.

The use of raw water sources with arsenic concentrations above the WHO potable water standard of 10µg/l is not permitted under the Program, regardless of any arsenic removal processes that are proposed.

Flow rate - a water point must have a minimum flowrate of 0.16 litres per second. Where water rationing is in place, a household must have access to at least 20 litres of water per household member per day from the water point, held in storage containers.

The Verification Cycle is the annual reporting schedule through which counties submit evidence of results, the PMU consolidates and forwards to the Independent Verification Agent (IVA), and counties receive disbursements based on verified results. In each cycle, counties prepare their County Results Monitoring Report (CRMR) by the agreed deadline, the PMU submits the consolidated Program Results Monitoring Report (PRMR) to the IVA, the IVA performs desk review and physical verification visits, and final disbursement follows confirmation. The round-by-round dates are published on the Timelines page.

Results Submission refers to the portal through which counties upload their evidence against each Disbursement-Linked Indicator (DLI). Each DLI has a dedicated Kobo form link on its page, accessed via the green "Submit Results" button. Where applicable, each DLI also lists the supporting templates (CECM letters, MD/Chairperson letters, Excel submission sheets, or certificates) that must be prepared before submitting the Kobo form. Submissions must be made within the Program period reporting window, using only the approved Kobo link for that DLI / DLR.

The Indicator against which the performance of the county will be evaluated.

SRS refers to simple random sampling

The 80% rule applies to DLIs 2, 4, 10.1 and 10.2

The rule works as follows: If verification finds that less than 80% of results reported in a county for the DLI in any one program period and verification cycle are eligible, the county will not receive any disbursement for those results under the DLI in the current program period. However, the county may resubmit the results for verification in a subsequent program period after resolving the eligibility issues.

Any scheme where one of the 4 main elements (source intake, main pipeline, storage tank and pumping station (if pumping is required), has been extended and new households are being served water by the extended scheme in a separate previously unserved area. Rehabilitation of the four main elements is permitted.

Any scheme where all 4 main elements (source intake, main pipeline, storage tank and pumping station (if pumping is required)) are built within the Program period.

The minimum design checklist includes the following:

1. Project proposal/Preliminary Concept note and Feasibility studies; clearly discussing problem statement, possible solutions and preferring/recommending the project for development, Confirmation that the water scheme will serve a rural area as defined in the PAD, confirmation of availability of land, source of funding, considerations of stakeholder engagement, ownership and sustainability of the proposed project. 
2. Design period for each element/component of the project, 
3. Population; current, future and ultimate projections.
4. Water Demand Assessment: current, future and ultimate water demand assessment for the various categories of consumption (including for multiple water uses).
5. Water Supply Assessment: Available sources, topography, water quality assessment, existing schemes and other proposed interventions.
6. Hydraulic design (for piped schemes); Assumptions made, engineering survey, network layout, pressure distribution, volume of flows, water storage, design of electromechanical equipment/installations and, network operation reliability assessment.
7. System design including design calculations, drawings, BoQs and tender documents if any; including phasing considerations, assessment of applicable technologies.
8. A service area map drawn to scale with accurate location of: (i) all households with connections; (ii) all households within a 500m radius of water kiosks; (iii) all water kiosks.
9. An assessment has been made of the climate resilience risks to the water scheme relating to flooding, drought and high winds. Where drought has been identified as a climate resilience risk, an assessment has been made of sustainable groundwater/surface water abstraction rates that considers existing abstraction for other uses, runoff/recharge rates and environmental and ecological needs. Design and operational mitigation measures to address the climate resilience risks to the water scheme have been identified and adopted.
10. The community have been consulted during the design phase through at least one community meeting at which plans and designs were presented and community members were given a full opportunity to raise questions and concerns;
11. Project screened and where applicable, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) undertaken before commencement culminating in the obtaining an EIA license;
12. Guidelines on land acquisition/allocation and voluntary land donations followed (Annexes 13, 14 and Annex 15); and
13. Considerations for multiple water use have been made and incorporated to the extent possible including 70 lpcd for multiple water use schemes.

Guiding Notes for K-WASH Projects

1. Project/Program designed must be eligible for K-WASH funding.
2. Manuals used for design of water and sanitation infrastructure are:

• Practice Manual Practice Manual for Water Supply Services in Kenya - 2005
• Draft Final Practice Manual for Sewerage and Sanitation Services in Kenya December 2008
• Costed Kenya Rural Sanitation and a Hygiene Roadmap 2023-2030
• Kenya Rural Sanitation & Hygiene pProtocol (RUSH) - 2023
• Monitoring Framework for Kenya Rural Sanitation & Hygiene Monitoring Framework For Kenya Rural Sanitation & Hygiene, 2023 – Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Protocol-http://guidelines.health.go.ke:8000/media/Monitoring_Framework_for_Rural_Sanitation_and_Hygiene_MoH.pdf
• WASREB Guidelines for Provision of Water & Sanitation Services in Rural and Underserved Areas in Kenya - 2019

3. The implementation of projects adhered to approved designs, and any changes made were approved according to the contract.
4. An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was carried out, and an EIA Licence issued by NEMA as prescribed in the Environmental, Social, Health and Safety Risk Management Manual.
5. A Resettlement Action Plan was prepared where economic and/or physical displacement was anticipated,
6. Relevant ESHS clauses were included in the bidding and contract documents for civil works to cascade the requirements of the ESHSRM Manual in construction works.
7. Proof that infrastructure Projects followed the laid down Procurement Procedures provided for in the PPAD Act 2015 Regulations 2020.acceptable to the PMU.

8. ^

    Once the WSS Design Manual is completed, this definition will be updated to refer to the criteria in the manual.

9. ^

    

The CWSS is a policy-level document containing an overarching framework to guide WSS sector investments and service delivery decisions at County level over a five-year period for achieving safe and sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services for all citizens of the County.

The CWSS&IP must include: (a) a diagnosis of the current WASH access situation, policy, legal, regulatory and institutional constraints and a scenario analysis of how the County can achieve universal access to WASH; (b) establishment of the institutional structure for water resources management and WASH service delivery in rural and urban areas of the County including definition of how the County will use different service provision models as per WASREB regulations/guidelines; (c) detailed investments the County intends to implement to achieve universal access to WASH based on the scenario analysis with details of locations, and budgets; (d) consideration of climate resilience and WASH+; and (e) a financing plan for the strategy

For toilets constructed under DLI 4, they must have been constructed within the life of the K-WASH program. For households this is defined as the official start date of the operation, February 2024.

Sanitation: 

• Functional improved toilets (Washable floor, durable wall, fixed with lockable doors, and roof) for staff and clients; 
• at least one stance for each sex and a stance for people with disabilities at main Outpatient Department (OPD); 
• provision of ramp, hand rails, hand washing facility, and raised toilet seat in a toilet for people with disabilities; 
• inspection chamber, septic tank and soak away or cess pit are provided and are at good state of repair; 
• and latrines are free from visible fecal matter, urine and cleansing material.

Hygiene: 

• Liquid Soap or sanitizer is provided for at least one hand washing point; and 
• water is available for hand washing for at least one hand washing point.

Improved water in health centers is: 

• Piped water supply to points of care meeting Kenyan drinking water quality standards (Adopted from KS 05-459: Part 1:1996) issued by WASREB 
• with a water quality test certificate dated within the last three months, based on one sample taken from one distribution point. 

Points of care are any of the following:

•    Pediatric
•    Maternity
•    Female wards
•    Male wards
•    Theater
•    Surgical ward
•    Counselling rooms
•    Laboratory
•    Pharmacy
•    Nutrition centers/units
•    Newborn Unit
•    MCH
•    Comprehensive Care Center
•    Outpatient

An ESIA exists for the facilities where applicable in line with NEMA guidelines.

A village achieving Community Wide Sanitation (CWS) is one that meets the following 5 criteria:

5.2.1 Village has been verified as achieving ODF status

5.2.2 At least 70 percent of households in the village have access to improved sanitation facility

5.2.3 All public primary schools and ECDE Centres within the village have improved school WASH facilities. 

5.2.4 All public HCF within the village have improved HCF WASH facilities 

5.2.5 All faecal waste from primary schools and HCFs is safely disposed of.

A Performance Contract (PC) between a WSP and the County Government includes, at a minimum:

Ten WASREB KPIs:

• Water Coverage (%)
• Drinking Water Quality
• Hours of Supply (hrs/day)
• Non-Revenue Water (%)
• Metering Ratio (%)
• Staff Productivity (staff per 1,000 connections)
• Personnel expenditure as % of O&M costs
• Revenue Collection Efficiency (%)
• O&M Cost Coverage (%)
• Pro-poor Services

Ring-fencing conditions for autonomy of WSP operations must also be included, including compliance with the Corporate Governance code, separation of WSP finances from County finances, and the WSP's authority to set and enforce its own tariff-based revenue system.

A National Water Sector Performance-based Financing Mechanism is a document formally adopted by Cabinet describing how funds will be transferred from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation to the County Governments conditioned on the Counties achieving specifically agreed results related to water supply and sanitation services.

Households located within any official Government of Kenya recognised refugee camp in Garissa (Dadaab camp) and Turkana (Kakuma and Kalobeyei camps) Counties.

Households that are located in Garissa and Turkana Counties (the refugee-hosting counties outside the refugee camps themselves).

In the context of refugee camps, a village is equivalent to a "block". Blocks are the smallest administrative unit within a refugee camp and are organised into sections. For K-WASH verification under DLRs 12.1–12.3, each block is treated as a village.

Refers to the local communities that directly receive and accommodate refugees in their area — i.e. the surrounding villages and settlements within refugee-hosting counties (Garissa and Turkana) that are adjacent to, and socially and economically integrated with, the official refugee camps.

The water scheme, including all water points, must be managed by one of the following nine WASREB management model options:

1. Within the service provision area of a WSP
   1. WSP takes over small water supply system.
   2. WSP delegates community management of the water supply scheme by an existing regulated WSP which delegates some responsibilities to a community-based operator.
   3. WSP delegates private management, where an existing regulated WSP contracts a Private Operator for management.
2. Outside service provision area of a WSP.
   1. County Government establishes new rural WSP to undertake O&M of rural schemes; and
   2. County Government/Rural WSP contracts private or NGO operator for O&M of rural schemes.
   3. Rural WSP takes over small water supply system.
   4. Rural WSP delegates some responsibilities to the SSSP/WUA.
   5. Water Users Association becomes a WSP. (This cuts across both within and outside service provision area).
   6. County

WASREB Management models are referenced in Annex 19 of the POM

A tariff approved by WASREB for WSP and delegated providers as defined in the Small systems. 

The approved tariff for the scheme is the approved WSP tariff that a scheme shall adopt in one of the delegated management systems as provided in WASREB’s guidelines on rural and underserved areas.

Gradual O&M cost recovery is defined as gradually increasing Operational Cost Coverage Ratios, as follows:

• Year 1: 0.70
• Year 2: 0.80
• Year 3: 0.90
• Years 4, 5, 6 and 7: 1

The Operational Cost Coverage ratio is defined, in line with WASREB, as the WSP’s total operating revenues (the sum of billing for water, sewerage and other services) divided by the WSP’s total operating expenditures (the sum of expenses on personnel, BoD, General admin, direct operational expenditures, maintenance and levies and fees.)

Direct operational expenditures include electricity, chemicals and fuel for vehicles.

Levies and fees include water abstraction fees, WWDA fees, effluent discharge fees and regulatory levy.

Billing for other services include charges on connection and reconnection, illegal connections, meter rent, meter testing, replacement of stolen meters and exhauster services. 

Operating Cost Coverage Ratio is applied at the water supply scheme level.

Leadership positions include the following positions:

1. Chairperson
2. Vice chairperson
3. Managers

A ‘water scheme’ is one of the following:

• All water points that are connected to the same water source through a piped distribution network
• All non-networked water points in a village (e.g. hand pumps, kiosks)

An improved sanitation facility at household level is defined as one of the following toilet types:

• Flush and pour flush toilets or latrines connected to septic tanks or pits
• Ventilated improved pit latrines
• Pit latrines with slabs
• Composting toilets including twin pit latrines
• Fossa Alterna,
• Dehydration Vaults, and 
• other technology for safely collecting, storing, and sometimes treating the products generated at the User Interface in a safe manner

The facility must be constructed in the reporting period being verified.

The facility must have:

• an intact slab (washable or non-washable but can be easily cleaned) having no cracks or holes (other than drop hole) that exposes excreta,
• a fitted lid (except for VIP, Flush and Pour Flush),
• provided with walls that protect the user, 
• a door shutter (whether fixed or movable) that provides privacy and security to the user, and
• no signs of leakage or spillage of faecal matter to the surroundings.
• handwashing facility with water and soap or ash available next to the handwashing facility

Households that share a single toilet between permanent residents of multiple households are NOT eligible. 

Dwellings where multiple households with different household heads share a compound, households ARE ONLY eligible if toilet facilities have designated separate doors for individual households e.g. related family homesteads, polygamous families should be considered.

Sharing of a toilet facility IS PERMITTED between members of the same household regardless of household size

An upgraded improved sanitation facility is an unimproved sanitation facility that existed prior to the Program period and has been upgraded to an improved sanitation facility during the Program period.

An upgraded improved sanitation facility at household level is defined as one of the following toilet types:

• Flush and pour flush toilets or latrines connected to septic tanks or pits
• Ventilated improved pit latrines
• Pit latrines with slabs
• Composting toilets including twin pit latrines
• Fossa Alterna,
• Dehydration Vaults, and 
• Other technology for safely collecting, storing, and sometimes treating the products generated at the User Interface in a safe manner

The facility must have:

• an intact slab (washable or non-washable but can be easily cleaned) having no cracks or holes (other than drop hole) that exposes excreta,
• a fitted lid (except for VIP, Flush and Pour Flush),
• provided with walls that protect the user, 
• a door shutter (whether fixed or movable) that provides privacy and security to the user, and
• no signs of leakage or spillage of faecal matter to the surroundings.
• handwashing facility with water and soap or ash available next to the handwashing facility

Households that share a single toilet between permanent residents of multiple households are NOT eligible. 

Dwellings where multiple households with different household heads share a compound, households are ONLY eligible if toilet facilities have designated separate doors for individual households e.g. related family homesteads, polygamous families should be considered.

Sharing of a toilet facility is PERMITTED between members of the same household regardless of household size. 

_______

One of the following three major components of the facility must have been entirely built during the Program period:

1. Containment structure
2. Superstructure (walls, roof and door)
3. Slab

A group of households in a single settlement, or a single neighbourhood. 

To achieve ODF status, villages must achieve all of the GoK’s ‘ODF Plus’ six criteria: 

1. no exposed human excreta within the community/households; 
2. all households have access to a toilet (individual or shared); 
3. the squat hole is covered; 
4. the floor is free of faeces and urine; 
5. there is a super structure that provides privacy so that a person outside is unable to see inside the facility; and 
6. all households have a hand washing facility near the latrine with soap/ash and water.

Improved WASH facilities in schools must include the following features:

1. Enrolment students: at least one drop hole per 25 girls per school session; each drop hole should have a hook; and one drop hole and urinal per 30 for boys per school session; and one drop hole each (for girls and boys) for students with special needs with ramp, handwashing facility, hand rails, and raised toilet seat. 
2. At least one MHM cubicle in each girl’s toilet block be equipped with a foot operated pedal bin. The bin should be regularly emptied and material fully safely disposed of at designated area and preferably through the use of an incinerator. [Kenya Standards & Guidelines for WASH Infrastructure in Pre-Primary & Primary Schools (2018) specifies ratios of 1 toilet for 25 girls and 1 toilet and a urinal for 30 boys.] 
3. If multiple school levels e.g. ECD, Primary and Secondary share the same site, the ratios must be calculated separately for each of the student populations. 
4. Separate sanitation facilities for girls and boys and a segregated block of latrines for teachers.
5. Latrines are free from visible fecal matter, urine and cleansing material. The task of cleaning or maintaining sanitary facilities shared equally among girls and boys.
6. At least one handwashing facility for every 25 pupils per session. [Kenya  Standards & Guidelines for WASH Infrastructure in Pre-Primary & Primary Schools (2018) specifies 1 tap to every 25 students.]
7. Latrines will be one of the following types: i) flush/pour flush to piped sewer system, septic tanks, ii) or pit latrines, iii) ventilated improved pit latrines, iv) composting toilets, v) pit latrines with slabs. 
8. All latrines must have: i) washable floors; ii) lockable doors to ensure privacy; iii) no leaks or faeces/ sludge overflowing the containment structure; iv) [if flush/pour flush to septic tank] a connection to an inspection chamber and a septic tank, as well as a soak away or cess pit, which are in a good state of repair; v) [if not VIP latrine] privacy wall 
9. Appoint a teacher as a designated and active menstrual counsellor. In schools without a female teacher an appropriate female parent or community health worker should be appointed to carry out this role. A burning chamber for menstrual pad disposal is available and functional.
10. A rainwater harvesting system exists at the school.
11. The County has: i) signed off that the design of sanitation, handwashing and rainwater harvesting adheres to the national standard design, ii) carried out regular supervision during construction (at least twice through construction period) and iii) signed off that the final construction is according to the signed off design (as per the national standard design).
12. An ESIA exists for the facilities where applicable in line with NEMA requirements

Refers to level 2 and level 3 health care facilities

Separate facilities are defined as individual, or blocks of, latrines which are fully private (with no ability for persons outside to view the inside of the facility from ground level); having as a minimum separate entrance into each facility and full height partitions between adjacent facilities. A single building divided into male and female sections is acceptable as long as these privacy requirements are met.

A hand washing facility is defined as a container for washing hands in, with soap or a soap substitute (detergent or ash) and water available in close proximity to the container.

There is no water quality requirement for hand washing.

A rainwater harvesting system is defined as a system for collecting rainwater with guttering and pipework to a storage tank or tanks with a minimum storage capacity of 1,000 litres and a tap with soakaway below.

Safely disposed means that faecal waste that is disposed of in a way that limits:

1. human contact with untreated faecal waste; and
2. contamination of the environment by untreated faecal waste
3. odour

These are the 33 Water Services providers (WSPs) established and operational in the 19 participating counties at the time of signing of the Financing Agreement. These are listed as follows:

1.        Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company
2.        Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company
3.        Gatanga Community Water Scheme
4.        Murang’a West Water and Sanitation Company
5.        Gatamathi Water and Sanitation Company
6.        Kirinyaga Water and Sanitation Company
7.        Rukanga Water and Sanitation Company
8.        Nithi Water and Sanitation Company
9.        Murugi Mugumango Water Society
10.        Kapenguria Water and Sanitation Company
11.        Chemususu Water and Sanitation Company
12.        Kirandich Water and Sanitation Company
13.        Nyasare Water Supply Assosciation
14.        Narok Water and Sewerage Company
15.        Bomet Water and Sewerage Company
16.        Kericho Water and Sewerage Company
17.        Amatsi Water Services Company
18.        Tachasis Water and Sanitation Company
19.        Kapsabet Nandi Water Services Company
20.        Wote Water and Sewerage Company
21.        Kibwezi Makindu Water and Sanitation Company
22.        Kitui Water and Sanitation Company
23.        Kiambere Mwingi Water and Sanitation Company
24.        Kwale Water and Sanitation Company
25.        Samburu Water and Sanitation. Company
26.        Mbooni Water and Sanitation Company
27.        Turkana Urban Water and Sanitation Company
28.        Migori Water and Sanitation Company 
29.        Tana River Water and Sanitation Company
30.        Mandera Water and Sewerage Company Limited (MANDWASCO)
31.        Elwak Water & Sewerage Company Ltd (ELWASCO)
32.        Garissa Water and Sewerage Company
33.        Garissa Rural Water Service Corporation (GARUWASCO)
 

A performance contract will include at a minimum the following:

1. Ten WASREB KPIs:
   1. Water Coverage, % 
   2. Drinking Water Quality
   3. Hours of Supply, hrs/day
   4. Non- Revenue Water, %
   5. Metering Ratio, %
   6. Staff Productivity, Staff per 1000 Connections
   7. Personnel expenditure as % of O+M Costs
   8. Revenue Collection Efficiency, %
   9. O&M Cost Coverage, %
   10. Pro-poor Services
2. At a minimum the following ring-fencing conditions for autonomy of WSP operations must be included in the performance contract:
   1. Compliance with the Corporate Governance Guideline for the Water Services Sector 
   2. Compliance with regulations is included in the PC

• The Operational Cost Coverage ratio is defined, in line with WASREB, as the WSP’s total operating revenues (the sum of billing for water, sewerage and other services) divided by the WSP’s total operating expenditures (the sum of expenses on personnel, BoD, General admin, direct operational expenditures, maintenance and levies and fees.
• Direct operational expenditures include electricity, chemicals and fuel for vehicles.
• Levies and fees include water abstraction fees, effluent discharge fees and regulatory levies.
• Billing for other services include charges on connection and reconnection, illegal connections, meter rent, meter testing, replacement of stolen meters and exhauster services.
• Operating Cost Ratio is applied at the WSP level.
• OCCR formulae for disbursement are shown in the Verification Protocol Annex 3. 

The Water Sector Inter-Governmental Coordination Framework is a formally signed document between the CoG and SDWS to coordinate and harmonize development of norms, standards, policies, laws and sector priorities, initiate key actions and discussions on topical issues to enable effective coordination, integration, and implementation of water sector development agenda in Kenya.

Operationalization of the Water Sector Inter-Governmental Coordination Framework means meeting the following criteria 

1. Publication of an annual Water Sector M&E Report (Annual Water Sector Report) aligned to the SDGs according to the template in Annex 9; and

Publication of an annual Water Sector Coordination report.