The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) is turning to private-sector financing to help close a Sh3 trillion funding gap and extend water services to 1,575 villages that remain without access to clean and safe water.
The agency says about Sh5 trillion is needed to meet the country’s remaining water infrastructure requirements, making alternative financing critical as the Government seeks to expand rural water access.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Rose Zacharia Ambrose said the scale of the financing requirement called for greater participation by the private sector alongside public resources.
She was speaking in Dodoma yesterday during a three-day working session bringing together the Ministry of Water, RUWASA’s Board of Directors, management, regional and district managers and representatives of Community-Based Water Supply Organisations (CBWSOs).
Ms Ambrose said the country’s development vision envisages increased private-sector participation in financing development projects, urging RUWASA to explore innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate water investments.
The push comes as RUWASA seeks to consolidate gains made in rural water supply, with coverage rising from 64.1 per cent in July 2019 to 85.2 per cent in June 2026.
The agency says water services have so far reached 10,758 of the country’s 12,333 villages, leaving 1,575 villages outside the formal service network.
Ms Ambrose said the remaining villages should not be treated as mere figures, noting that inadequate access to water continues to impose a disproportionate burden on women and children.
She said women and children in affected communities often spend long periods walking in search of water, reducing the time available for economic activities, education and household responsibilities, while exposing families to health risks associated with unsafe water.
“The 1,575 villages represent wananchi who are still facing challenges in accessing water,” she said, calling for practical plans capable of delivering measurable results.
The Ministry has directed RUWASA to develop and implement a targeted plan for the villages, with the agency expected to prioritise ongoing projects and mobilise resources to accelerate implementation.
Ms Ambrose also challenged RUWASA’s regional and district managers to take greater responsibility for identifying and resolving problems in their areas rather than waiting for directives from headquarters.
She described the managers as the institution’s “eyes, ears, hands and feet”, stressing the need for proactive leadership and timely intervention.
The meeting is also addressing the sustainability of completed water projects, including operations and maintenance, contract management and the performance of CBWSOs.
RUWASA's Director General Eng Wolta Kirita said the agency has completed 3,714 water projects worth more than Sh1.8 trillion, while 630,311 rural households have been connected to water services.
The agency has also established, registered and strengthened 885 CBWSOs responsible for managing rural water supply and sanitation services.
A RUWASA Board member, Engineer Ngusa Mpembe, said funding shortages remained among the major constraints affecting project implementation.
He said the Ministry’s recognition of the financing challenge provided an opportunity to develop interventions that could unlock additional resources for the sector.
Eng Mpembe said a paper on alternative financing, prepared with private-sector participation, would be shared with RUWASA management before being presented at an upcoming African engineers’ conference.
The agency is also seeking to strengthen accountability through performance contracts, improved data systems and technology, while building the capacity of staff and community-based water service providers.
RUWASA has recently obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification, which management says should translate into improved service delivery rather than remain a certification displayed in offices.
The agency has also started implementing its 2026/27–2030/31 five-year strategic plan, which will guide its next phase of operations.
The three-day meeting, which runs from September 9 to 11 in Dodoma, is expected to conclude with measurable resolutions to be incorporated into RUWASA’s action plans and used to track progress in improving rural water services.