Several urban areas in Kilifi County now have steady water supply following the completion of a Sh2 billion project undertaken by Coast Water Works Development Agency
Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi towns, and their environs have previously experienced water shortages and frequent rationing.
The situation has however changed since the completion of the Baricho-Kakuyuni Water Supply Project.
The project that connects municipalities of Kilifi County and other surrounding areas has been hailed as a major boost to the livelihood of locals and tourism.
The project, which was commissioned by President William Ruto in July 2024, has increased water supply to Kilifi County by about 40 million litres per day and to Mombasa County by approximately 10 million litres per day, effectively ending the need for rationing.
Kilifi County currently receives about 1.55 billion litres per month, an increase of about 30 per cent from about 1.15 billion litres per month before the completion of the project.
Additionally, the completion of the Baricho Protection Works has provided enhanced security to the Baricho Wellfield that lies along the Sabaki River flood plain. This project was also commissioned by Ruto in July 2024.
Acting CWWDA Chief Executive Officer Martin Tsuma said the agency is working with relevant stakeholders to achieve more connectivity through the completion of distribution networks.
“Our aim is to ensure more household connectivity as we work on sustainability and security of our installations to avert any future disruptions in water supply," he said.
Before the commissioning of the project, only 28,000 water connections could be traced against a service demand of more than 100,000 in the municipalities.
The project involved the construction of 29.5 kilometre of 800mm diameter pipeline, the construction of a five million litres storage reservoirs and the construction of a pumping station and other ancillary works.
Additionally, the Baricho water works has seen significant expansion with a number of completed donor financed projects which includes the rehabilitation of three boreholes with a daily production of 33 million litres per day that were destroyed by floods in 2018 when River Sabaki burst its banks.
According to an Impact Report by the Water Service Regulatory Board (WASREB), approximately 1.1 million residents of Kilifi had access to piped water as of June 2023, representing about 73 per cent of the total population of Kilifi County making the devolved unit the fourth county in Kenya to have high water coverage.
