After several regional Youth WASH/Water Parliaments from Kenya, the Blue Community can designate and welcome the national Kenya Parliament for Water (KYPW) in the network.
Kenya Youth Parliament for Water (KYPW) is a youth-led, non-profit network founded in October 2022 to empower Kenyan youth as changemakers in the water sector. KYPW mobilises young leaders across all 47 counties of Kenya to drive civic action, advance climate resilience, advocate for environmental protection, and shape the policies that guarantee sustainable water security and sanitation for all. KYPW seeks to bridge capacity gaps by equipping young people with the knowledge, voice, and platforms to lead community action and policy dialogue around water rights.
KYPW is the official Kenyan chapter of the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW) and the African Youth Parliament for Water (AYPW). KYPW uniquely serves as the bridge that positions Kenyan youth in the global water movement by linking grassroots efforts, national policy engagement and international advocacy platforms.
KYPW’s vision is «to be the frontier organisation of youths advocating for the right to water», and its mission states «to advocate for the right to accessible, clean and affordable water for all».
Collaborations play a crucial role in translating KYPW’s vision into tangible impact. Given the scale of water challenges across Kenya, KYPW is committed to nurturing relationships that deliver results and foster mutual growth and capacity building. The organisation is eager to explore how partnerships can amplify the influence of young people shaping water policy and action.
In its commitment to the Blue Community, KYPW declares:
«Kenya Youth Parliament for Water seeks to join the Blue Community Network to strengthen its commitment to advancing water justice, youth engagement, and sustainable water governance. As a youth-led platform, we recognise water and sanitation as fundamental human rights and see the Blue Community initiative as an opportunity to align our work with global standards and best practices.»
KYPW’s past and planned activities include:
Since 2022, Kenya Youth Parliament for Water (KYPW) has implemented and participated in several youth-led water, WASH, and climate action initiatives, including:
- Participation in national and global water governance dialogues, including the UNESCO Water Youth Dialogues, Africa Climate Summit engagements, World Water Week, Youth Environmental Assembly, and preparations towards the 2026 UN Water Conference.
- Engagement in policy and sector coordination platforms, including participation in the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) Mutual Accountability Mechanisms (MAMs) Country Commitments Review Meeting to strengthen youth contribution to SDG 6 implementation.
- Capacity-building and knowledge-sharing initiatives, including WASH innovation sessions, youth leadership engagements, and training of students on innovative sanitation technologies in partnership with Opero Services at Meru University of Science and Technology.
- Advocacy and awareness activities promoting water security, climate resilience, sanitation, and sustainable water practices, including World Water Day campaigns focused on water, gender, and inclusion.
- Community-focused WASH initiatives, including menstrual hygiene management (MHM) promotion activities at Lang’ata Women’s Prison, advancing dignity, equity, and access to safe sanitation.
Stakeholder engagement and partnership development with youth networks, civil society organisations, and water sector actors to support collaborative approaches to sustainable water management.
Planned activities include expanding youth-led WASH and Blue Economy initiatives, strengthening county-level community engagement, supporting climate-resilient water solutions, increasing public awareness on sustainable consumption and plastic pollution reduction, and creating more platforms for youth participation in water governance.
In addition to the core principles of the Blue Community, KYPW is committed to:
- Youth Inclusion in Water Governance: Ensuring meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes related to water and climate.
- Climate Resilience: Promoting climate-adaptive water management practices.
- Community Engagement: Strengthening local action and ownership in water resource management.
«Our activities include youth-led initiatives, policy engagement, and community-based actions that advance sustainable and inclusive water governance.»
Njeri Ngugi, President of KYPW, and the team state:
«KYPW’s motivation is driven by the need to amplify youth voices in water governance, promote equitable access to safe water, and support public and community-led water solutions in Kenya. Through this affiliation, KYPW aims to contribute to advocacy, awareness-raising, and capacity building on water-related issues, while also learning from a global network of like-minded institutions.
We expect that joining the Blue Community Network will enhance our visibility, strengthen partnerships, and provide opportunities for collaboration on initiatives that advance water security, climate resilience, and sustainable development.»
Sir Charles Chitechi, President of the Kenyan Blue Community WASWAK and Coordinator for the Blue Community Eastern Africa, welcomes KYPW:
«Research has been conducted and the results clearly show that young people and women play a vital role in fighting for the human right to access clean, safe, affordable and sustainable water and sanitation services for all.
Blue Community Africa, particularly in the Eastern Region, is pleased to recognise and warmly welcome the Kenyan Youth Parliament for Water to the global network, forming a strong Blue family that will enhance advocacy, push for better sectoral governance, and demand increased access not only in Kenya, but also globally. We hope that this Gen Z generation, with their quick grasp of IA knowledge, will revolutionise the water sector and become real game changers. A big welcome to Blue Community Africa!»
