Athi Water unveils 2024–2029 plan to boost water access

JOSEPH NG’ANG’A-KNA

The Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) has launched its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, initiating a series of flagship water and sanitation projects.

The initiative aims to transform access to safe water in Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a, and the surrounding regions.

It will deliver new water sources with a combined daily storage capacity of 461,000 cubic meters, increase treatment capacity to 318,500 cubic meters per day, lay more than 443 kilometers of transmission pipelines, and construct 880 kilometers of sewer networks.

Speaking during the launch at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Eng. Eric Murithi Mugaa commended the 2024–2029 Strategic Plan as a bold step toward achieving Kenya’s long-term development goals.

“These projects bring us closer to universal water and sanitation coverage by 2030, in line with Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” he said.

The plan is expected to significantly reduce waterborne diseases, improve public health, and enhance household productivity.

It will close the growing supply-demand gap, ensuring millions in both urban and peri-urban areas gain reliable access to safe water and sanitation.

“The socio-economic benefits of healthier families, thriving businesses, and stronger local economies cannot be overstated,” he added.

The project is expected to unlock opportunities for industries and businesses that depend on a consistent water supply.

Eng. Joseph Kamau, Chief Executive Officer of AWWDA, said the strategic plan places access to clean water at the center of socio economic transformation. “Water is not just about consumption, it underpins health, education, agriculture, and enterprise.

By securing long-term supply, we improve daily lives while creating a foundation for job creation, food security, industrial growth, and climate resilience.

“This plan is not just about dams and pipelines; it is about livelihoods and opportunities,” he said.

The strategic plan underscores collaboration, digital innovation, and green energy solutions as pivotal in reimagining water and sanitation for future generations.

The five-year plan encompasses large-scale initiatives, including the Thiririka Dam Water Supply Project, Maragua 4 Dam, Northern Collector Tunnel II, and the Nairobi Satellite Towns Water and Sanitation Improvement Project (NATWASIP).

It requires Sh206 billion investment, to be mobilized through government allocations, development partners, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing, including climate funds.