UN Seeks Water Specialist for Kenya's Largest Refugee-Hosting Municipality
Turkana County, 20 May 2026
Kakuma Municipality in Turkana County, home to nearly 530,000 people including over 310,000 refugees from 24 nations, requires urgent water infrastructure expertise. The United Nations Volunteers programme has opened a specialist position to address critical water, sanitation and hygiene challenges under the Kenya Integrated Socio-Economic Development Programme running until 2027. This role will coordinate major assessments of urban water systems and support transition plans benefiting both refugee communities and local residents in one of East Africa’s most significant humanitarian settlements.
Shirika Plan Implementation Drives Water Infrastructure Focus
The WASH specialist position forms part of the Kenya Integrated Socio-Economic Development Programme Phase II (KISEDP-II), which runs from 2023 to 2027 and operates as a pillar of the broader Shirika Plan [1][2]. This comprehensive development framework supports equitable protection services for both refugees and host communities in Turkana County [1][2]. The programme aligns with Kenya’s Medium Term Plan IV and represents a significant shift towards integrated development approaches that benefit all residents of the region, rather than treating refugee and host community needs separately [GPT].
Critical Water System Assessments and Rehabilitation Plans
The UN Volunteer specialist will undertake detailed assessments of urban water supply systems, encompassing both public and private infrastructure within Kakuma Municipality [1][2]. These assessments will provide technical recommendations for rehabilitation of existing water infrastructure, addressing years of strain from supporting a population that has grown substantially beyond original capacity [1][2]. The specialist will work directly with the County Government and Municipality to evaluate current water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, supporting the implementation of the Water Supply Transition Plan [1][2]. This technical work will strengthen sanitation and waste management systems whilst addressing identified gaps in UNHCR-funded WASH programmes [2].
Multi-Partner Coordination Under KISEDP Structure
The role requires coordination among multiple development partners, including UN-Habitat, operating within the established KISEDP structures [1][2]. The specialist will build technical capacity amongst key stakeholders, including the Kenya Local Water Services Company (KALWASCO) and refugee communities, focusing on WASH best practices [1]. Real-time WASH assessments will be implemented to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and data-driven decision-making processes [1]. This coordinated approach reflects the complexity of managing water resources in a municipality where refugees comprise over 58.491 per cent of the total population [1][2].
Broader Regional Partnership Initiatives
The UN volunteer position coincides with other significant partnership developments in the region, as the Danish Refugee Council Kenya seeks local organisations to deliver integrated interventions across Turkana and West Pokot Counties [3]. The DRC partnership opportunity, with applications closing on 20 May 2026, specifically seeks expertise in economic recovery, WASH, protection and peacebuilding to strengthen resilience and promote peaceful coexistence [3]. These concurrent initiatives demonstrate the sustained international focus on building local capacity and community-driven solutions in displacement-affected contexts across Kenya’s North Rift region [3]. The alignment of multiple development programmes underscores the strategic importance of Turkana County in Kenya’s broader refugee management and regional development policies [GPT].