Fragmented Governance and Poor Coordination in Kenya's Sanitation Sector
47
County Governments with Differing Sanitation Mandates
5×
Higher Cost of Fragmentation (“Five-Fold Cost”)
SDG 6.2
Universal Access Requires Unified Governance
While global efforts often prioritize resources and technology, Kenya’s sanitation challenge is ultimately one of institutional fragmentation and a policy-to-practice disconnect. The result is a sector that remains paralyzed by divided authority, weak coordination, and competing mandates.
The Crisis of Fragmentation
The critical bottleneck to achieving universal, safely managed sanitation (SDG 6.2) is not the lack of capital, but the diffused vertical and horizontal mandates that dismantle the sanitation service chain. This governance vacuum fuels inefficiency, reduces accountability, and weakens investment outcomes.
The Paradox of Devolution
Kenya’s devolution promised localized empowerment — yet it has produced a policy-to-practice paradox. The transfer of responsibility without corresponding clarity or coordination has led to overlapping jurisdictions, regulatory ambiguity, and underperformance in sanitation delivery.
The road to universal sanitation runs through governance. Without unified institutional mechanisms, even the best technical or financial solutions remain inert against the backdrop of divided authority.
Elevate the Discourse: Turn Fragmentation into Forward Momentum
The narrative of Kenya's sanitation sector has long been dominated by the “Five-Fold Cost of Disconnection” — a systemic failure rooted in fragmented governance and poor coordination. But your organization’s experience in navigating these challenges is the key to change.
- • Amplify Your Impact: Show how your work overcame policy disconnects or regulatory bottlenecks — the lessons the sector needs most.
- • Establish Thought Leadership: Cement your organization as a system reformer, not just an implementer.
- • Inspire Unified Action: Your success in coordination, FSM, or financing can directly inform the creation of a Unified County Sanitation Authority.
Don’t let your achievements remain isolated within fragmented systems. Join a growing network of organizations contributing to the SaniBook — a shared blueprint for coordinated governance and sustainable sanitation.
Contribute to the SaniBook“Fragmentation is not a failure of effort, but of alignment — the true measure of progress is how we connect, not how we compete.”