Kenya's New Water Law: An Analysis of the Implications of Kenya's Water Act, 2002, for the Rural Poor

This chapter analyses the implications of Kenya's Water Act, 2002 for the rural poor in the management of water resources and delivery of water services. It is premised on the belief that recognizing pluralistic legal frameworks is necessary for the effective management of water resources and delivery of water services to the rural poor. The chapter argues that, to the extent the Water Act, 2002 depends on state-based legal frameworks, its effectiveness in meeting the needs of the rural poor will be limited, particularly given the limitations of technical and financial resources the Kenyan state is facing. Consequently, it is necessary that a conscious policy of pursuing the use of the limited opportunities the law presents be adopted in order to maximize the law's potential in meeting the needs of the rural poor