Rafik Hirji, World Bank - Groundwater Governance

of the aquifer, as well as the management of Makutopora aquifer,the only source of supply for the Capital city Dodoma.In Kenya, the Bank’s support for the water sector is growing fromthe soon to be completed ($ 165 m) Water Supply and SanitationProject (WaSSIP) to the recently approved ($ 320 m) AdditionalFinancing for WaSSIP as well as the ongoing Natural ResourcesManagement Project. This support is likely to further increasesignificantly to the tune of $ 350-700 million through the newKenya Water Security and Climate Resilience program (that isunder preparation and expected to be implemented in phases).Through dialogue, investment planning and knowledge sharing,the understanding about and appreciation of the critical role ofgroundwater as a vital water resource is shifting rapidly in Kenya.The soon to be completed water supply master plan for Nairobiand Satellite Towns funded jointly by the Bank and AFD includesa broader recognition of the growing role of groundwater in theMetropolitan area and the need to manage it better. The earliestinterventions recommended under the master plan will include theassessment and exploration of two new well fields at Ruiru andKiunyu and specific recommendations for managing groundwaterand surface water. The Bank’s Natural Resources ManagementProject has conducted a study to understand rechargemechanism for the Kikuyu Springs, a small but the most reliablesource of water supply for Nairobi. A similar study is planned forrecharge mechanism for the Mzima Springs, a key source ofsupply for the chronically water short Coast Region.The recently initiated work under the Coast Region Water Supplymasterplan will include further assessment of the Baricho aquifer,