Japan Commits £3.2 Million to Transform Water Access in Kenya's Drought-Stricken Turkana County
Kalobeyei, 24 February 2026
Japan’s International Cooperation Agency has allocated KSh 520 million over three years to revolutionise water infrastructure in Turkana County, directly benefiting both refugee settlements and local communities. The ambitious project will rehabilitate existing water systems, install smart water kiosks, and solarise boreholes across Lodwar and Kakuma municipalities. This investment forms part of Kenya’s 25-year water master plan for the region, which suffers from chronic water scarcity affecting thousands of residents and refugees in one of the country’s most water-stressed areas.
Three-Year Implementation Timeline Begins
The Turkana Water Infrastructure Improvement Project (TWIIP) commenced in January 2026 and will run through February 2029, with implementation handled by UN-HABITAT under the supervision of the Japan International Cooperation Agency [1]. This funding represents approximately $4.1 million USD, specifically targeting both host and refugee populations in Lodwar and Kakuma municipalities [1]. The project builds upon a longstanding partnership between Turkana County and JICA that dates back to 2013, encompassing previous programmes such as IFNUS and ECORAD I and II [1].
Strategic Infrastructure Development Components
The comprehensive infrastructure development programme includes rehabilitation of existing water supply systems, installation of bulk meters, engineering designs, and pipeline extensions [1]. Additional components feature solarisation of boreholes and installation of smart water kiosks throughout the target areas [1]. These technical improvements aim to expand access to safe and reliable water supply whilst strengthening the capacity of local water service providers to effectively operate, manage, and sustain water systems [1].
Integration with County’s Master Plan
Deputy Governor Dr John Erus emphasised that this initiative aligns with the county’s broader agenda of improving access to quality and adequate water, as well as the Shirika plan frameworks for host and refugee integration [1]. The county has already developed a 25-year municipality water master plan for Lodwar, with optimism that the new infrastructure project will reinforce existing interventions [1]. The plan includes streamlining water supply by tapping from the Napuu aquifer and protecting boreholes along the Turkwel River [1].
Long-Term Solutions and Capacity Building
Turkana County is working closely with partners in the KISEDP framework to explore long-term solutions, including the possibility of damming River Tarach to address persistent water shortages affecting the refugee camp, Kalobeyei settlement schemes, and the larger Turkana West areas [1]. Staff from Kakuma and Lodwar-based water companies are currently undergoing training through the Kenya Water Institute to support the programme’s rollout [1]. UN-HABITAT Kenya’s Head of Country Programme, Beryl Kanyile, expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to implement the project, drawing from extensive best practices and lessons learned across similar interventions within the development and humanitarian sectors [1].