The Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation has announced a crackdown on unregistered and rogue water drillers across the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, the ministry affirmed that the weeding out of these businesses will be pivotal in restoring professionalism, integrity, and accountability in borehole drilling in the country. The ministry further revealed that it will reinforce regulations in the sector to ensure that every driller in the country firmly adheres to the set standards and environmental best practices.
Additionally, the ministry stressed that upholding the recommended drilling practices will safeguard the well-being of people and industries that heavily rely on groundwater.
A photo of a borehole being drilled in Kenya Photo Water Lift The announcement was made after the Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation, Julius Korir, held a meeting with the Rig Drillers Association of Kenya to deliberate on how the government can expand water accessibility in the country. "The PS assured members that the Ministry is committed to convening all relevant stakeholders to weed out unscrupulous and unregistered drillers, safeguarding the industry and protecting communities relying on groundwater resources," the ministry stated. Drilling a borehole is an essential activity in many parts of Kenya, especially in areas where access to clean and reliable water is limited.
