Current statistics show that 50 % of the Kenyan population draws water directly from the natural water resources such as rivers, lakes and springs rather than the improved water supplies.To this effect, the Water Services Trust Fund(WSTF) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) with the support ofdevelopment partners are implementing a funding window called Water Resources Users Associations Development Cycle (WDC) to invest in water resource management at the local level.

The WSTF joined other water sector stakeholders in marking this year’s World Water Day celebrations in Garissa. During the event, the Minister for Water and Irrigation the Hon. John Mutua Katuku in his speech that was read on his behalf by the Assistant Minister for Water Services the Hon. Maj. Rtd. Adan A. Sugow said water scarcity was a reality in many arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya such as Garissa.

Rural population in Kenya accounts for 65 percent of the underserved communities currently estimated at about 18 million people.
They mainly rely on rivers and streams for all their water requirements.

In August 2006, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(SIDA) Director General Maua Norfolk pledged Kshs. 470 million towards Kenya's effort to mitigate drought.The pledge was made during the Symposium held in Sweden. The funds will be disbursed through the Water Services Trust Fund(WSTF) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA).