Budget Facilitators in the Central Rift Region have called on state actors and citizens in the region to work closely in ensuring access to clean water services.

Under the umbrella Rift Valley Budget Hub, the facilitators observed that the water sector in the region has not been given priority it deserves and this has impacted negatively on the socio-economic livelihoods.

Addressing media in Nakuru on Friday during a round table meeting with representatives from the county governments and Central Rift Water Works Development Agency, the budget facilitators called for a need to have conversations around the Water sector.

This even as the 2019 census report indicates that there is serious water access in the Rift Valley region with 7 of the 10 bottom counties being from Rift valley.

Rift Valley Budget Hub Coordinator Mr.Evans Kibet said this is what informed the move to sensitize the citizens in the region on the importance of giving priority to the water sector.

“The idea is to have conversations between the county governments, national government and the citizens so that community priorities find space in the budget and are implemented fully” said Kibet.

The Rift Valley Budget Hub covers Nakuru, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot,Bomet  and Uasin Gishu counties in the Central Rift Region.

According to Kibet, most of the counties in the region are struggling with water departments performing poorly in terms of budget absorption.

This, he attributed to the inadequate technical capacities-an issue he said through collaboration with Regional Water Works Development Agency they will be able to address.

“Water departments across the counties are doing poorly in budget absorption due to lack of technical capacities and that is why we want to ensure capacity building for the counties” he said.

The Rift Valley Budget Hub has vowed not to relent in supporting citizens-led advocacy for improved water services in the Region.

A 23-year-old Egerton University student on Sunday committed suicide over suspected depression.

Confirming the incident, Njoro Sub-county police commander Jonathan Kisaka said the deceased had tried several times to take his life before the Sunday incident.

The officer noted that the deceased identified as Edward Chege was living in a rental house just a few meters from the main campus.

“Yesterday we received a report of a suicide incident. The student might have been depressed for he had severally tried to take his life” he said.

The body of the deceased was taken to Egerton University Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Mr Kisaka called on youths to share their problems with counsellors to avert such incidents.

“Depression is real and people should seek help,” he said.