From Reporting to Implementing: My Journey Into the Water Sector
by Victoria Adwet Omondi
A decade ago, seated in that Media class in my third year, I had envisioned myself landing a job in one of these mainstream media stations, all corporate, reporting on the day to day happenings of our time as a news anchor. In my early career, through countless interviews and field reports, I witnessed firsthand the realities often hidden behind statistics. Realities that would then change the direction of my life. Communities struggling to adapt to climate change, women and girls walking for miles in search of water, families losing their livelihood to floods and drought was the order of the day. Reporting alone was not enough for me, it left a gap in me, a thirst to want to do more. These were not just stories but realities tied to poor governance and ineffective systems. A growing sense of purpose evolved my reporting to mobilization and advocacy.
Just like that I found myself in the world of Water Sanitation and Hygiene. I realized that I didn’t have to be a water professional to advocate for the right to water or for good governance within the WASH sector. I then went ahead to form the Kisumu Youth Water Sanitation and Hygiene Parliament, a youth-led initiative dedicated to championing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) issues within Kisumu County. Comprising passionate young advocates below the age of 35, the parliament works to improve access to clean water, promote sustainable sanitation solutions, and drive environmental conservation efforts. Through grassroots activism, policy advocacy, and community engagement, we empower young people to take an active role in addressing critical social, environmental and governance challenges. By collaborating with stakeholders, raising awareness, and implementing impactful projects, we strives to create a healthier and more sustainable future.
With a 15 member secretariat and having partnered with other organizations, in just two years we have been able to conduct a youth led data acquisition and reporting on SDG 6- The Case of Kisumu County – 2025, establish a woodlot with 300 trees at Highway Comprehensive School, conduct WASH related outreach activities in Twenty (20) schools involving over 2000 learners, convened Kenya Youth Summit in 2024, mobilized youths and participated in the WWF Kenya led Journey of Water Campaigns in the Country. The public campaigns are aimed at creating awareness on increasing water risks and stress, and calling for collective action and lastly conducted 20+ digital engagements-X spaces to capacity build the public on various topics around climate and Water Resources Management (WRM) and WASH Nexus.
We developed policy briefs from the youth led report on status of SDG 6 implementation. Organised a number of fora that engaged the community and sensitized them on the need for environmental justice-holding the duty bearers to account, especially for the most vulnerable in the community. Took cognisance of concerns on apparent freshwater blindness in Kenya-a country categorised as water scarce. The parliament has trained and mentored young people in accountability and environmental stewardship-to ultimately become change makers. We have strengthened school environmental clubs through monthly outreach programs that seek to build healthy and conservation conscious habits among young children. Through this, handwashing is becoming a routine both at school and at home, sanitation facilities are being better used and maintained and promoted safe wash practices, gradually reducing incidences water borne diseases.
My communication background continues to guide me to turn advocacy into collective movement and today I use my voice to bridge communities and policymakers because together, we can shape a more sustainable and equitable future. My journey is proof that communication can do more than inform; it can ignite transformation.
About
I am a young African Woman passionate about climate justice, water and accountability. I founded the Kisumu Youth Water Sanitation and Hygiene Parliament (KYWP) that comprises of over 100 youth from across the county. KYWP is a community based organization that empowers and engage young people to raise awareness in their communities while advocating for improved service delivery with a focus on water. I identified a gap in how youth and women voices were missing in candid conversations yet they are the most affected with water scarcity and questionable quality and thus formed a structured platform for their meaningful engagement.