African Development Bank Launches £1.9 Billion Water Programme to Transform Kenya's Urban Infrastructure
Nairobi, 28 April 2026
The African Development Bank’s new Kenya National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Program will benefit 1.9 million people across 21 towns by 2029. The ambitious initiative will increase daily water supply capacity by 33,600 cubic metres and expand wastewater treatment by 19,300 cubic metres daily, directly supporting Kenya’s Vision 2030 development goals.
Workshop Launches Comprehensive Urban Water Initiative
The Kenya National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Program officially commenced following a launch workshop held in Nairobi from 8-10 April 2026 [1]. The three-day event brought together dozens of staff from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation alongside project management personnel from 13 county implementing water agencies [1]. Participants received comprehensive orientation on fiduciary requirements, environmental and safeguards protocols, gender considerations, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and project management guidelines [1]. The programme targets 21 towns across 16 counties, with an ambitious scope to benefit approximately 1.900 million people - 1.4 million through improved water supply and an additional 500,000 through enhanced sanitation facilities [1].
Technical Capacity Expansion and Implementation Timeline
The technical specifications of NUWSSP demonstrate the scale of Kenya’s infrastructure ambitions. The project will increase water supply capacity by 33,600 cubic metres per day whilst expanding wastewater treatment capacity by 19,300 cubic metres daily [1]. Christopher Mutasa, Lead Investments and Operations Officer at the African Development Bank’s East Africa division, emphasised that the project demonstrates the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting Kenya’s development agenda, particularly in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 targets, Kenya’s Vision 2030, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda [1]. The programme completion is targeted for 2029, with Mutasa urging accelerated implementation and strengthened national coordination to achieve the intended impact within this timeframe [1].
Strategic Alignment with National Development Goals
Julius Korir, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Water and Sanitation, highlighted the workshop’s critical role in equipping stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills for successful project delivery [1]. Eng. Samwel Alima, Water Secretary at the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, described NUWSSP as a significant step toward strengthening urban water and sanitation infrastructure whilst enhancing service reliability and advancing sustainable development in Kenya’s rapidly growing urban centres [1]. The programme’s scope reflects the urgent need to address water security challenges in Kenya’s expanding metropolitan areas, where population growth has consistently outpaced infrastructure development [GPT].
Broader Context of Climate Resilience Initiatives
The launch of NUWSSP coincides with other climate adaptation initiatives across Kenya’s arid regions. Communities in Kenya’s dry areas are being empowered to withstand the impacts of climate change through various programmes, including the IMARA project, which has enabled pastoralist communities to diversify into different types of farming, with some ventures helping to provide livestock feed [2]. The Bank’s Water Supply and Sanitation Officers Lazarus Phiri and Caroline Adhiambo facilitated the NUWSSP workshop, ensuring technical expertise supports the programme’s implementation across multiple counties [1]. This comprehensive approach to water security addresses both urban infrastructure needs and rural climate resilience, reflecting Kenya’s integrated strategy for sustainable development by 2030.