Kenya Water Institute and German multinational technology group WILO East Africa have announced a partnership aimed at bringing profitability to water distribution companies in Kenya.
Water loss continues to be the biggest challenge across many counties which are also constantly recording inactive connections of up to more than 50 per cent, posing a challenge to the sustainability of utilities.
Kenya Water Institute CEO Leiro Letangule says that most of the water companies are not profitable currently because of the direct costs involved with water distribution, like high electricity costs.
“We lose billions in energy and non-revenue water, this is what we are trying to prevent. The system has worked in Nakuru and doing it on a wider scope will be beneficial,” Letangule said.
Currently, according to Water Cabinet secretary Alice Wahome, in 16 counties, over half of the supplied water is being wasted, indicating a substantial revenue loss.
A report released in June 2023 by the CS shows that, Kisii and Nyamira, both served by Gusii Water and Sanitation Company, registered the highest water loss rates at 77 per cent each, as reported in Kenya’s Water Services Sector Performance Report for 2021-22.
This underscores the urgency for intensified efforts to minimise water losses. Nairobi county experienced a 50 per cent loss in the water it generated.
The water is wasted prior to reaching consumers, primarily due to leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies.
KEWI’s deputy director for research, consultancy and technical services Nelson Kwamini added that the two-year renewable contract with the German firm is a game changer to the water sector in terms of taming revenue losses.
“The pumps supplied by WILO will serve the needs of service providers and a lot of revenue leakages and energy for powering the pumps. We will disseminate these pumps to water distribution firm’s country wide,” Kwamini said.
Wilo East Africa managing director Belete Matebe said that the German firm will have a lab inside KEWI to promote water digitisation and serve EA community.