AWWDA Unveils KES 206 Billion Strategic Plan to Transform Water and Sanitation Access
By Sharon Atieno
Athi Water Works Development Agency CEO Eng. John Kamau (left), Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eng. Eric Mugaa (centre) and Athi Water Works Development Agency Board Chairperson Mary Mungai peruse the strategic plan 2023-2027 during its launch. The agency aims to address the growing water supply-demand gap, ensuring that millions of Kenyans in both urban and peri-urban areas gain reliable access to safe water and sanitation.
Nairobi, August 30, 2025 – The Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) has launched its 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, outlining ambitious water and sanitation projects designed to expand clean water access and address growing demand in Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a, and surrounding counties.
At the centre of the five-year plan are major projects 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).
Together, these initiatives will provide new water sources with a combined daily storage capacity of 461,000 cubic meters and expand treatment capacity to 318,500 cubic meters per day. The plan also targets construction of more than 443 kilometres of transmission pipelines and 880 kilometres of sewer networks.
The projects are expected to close the supply-demand gap, benefitting millions in urban and peri-urban areas with reliable water and sanitation services. Beyond improved access, the plan promises wider socio-economic gains, from reducing waterborne diseases and improving public health to boosting household productivity and strengthening industries reliant on water.
The strategic plan will require an estimated KES 206 billion, to be financed through government allocations, partnerships with development partners, public-private collaborations, and innovative financing models such as climate funds.
Speaking at the launch, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary, Eng. Eric Mugaa, said the initiative aligns with national development priorities.
“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. The socio-economic impact healthier families, thriving businesses, and stronger economies cannot be overstated,” he noted.
AWWDA Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Joseph Kamau, stressed that the plan positions water as a catalyst for economic growth.
“Water underpins health, education, agriculture, and enterprise. This plan is not just about dams and pipelines; it is about livelihoods, opportunities, and resilience,” he said.
The launch also marked the commissioning of bulk water operations from Karimenu II Dam and the Northern Collector Tunnel systems, now supplying over 217 million litres of treated water daily to Nairobi and neighbouring towns.
AWWDA Board Chairperson, Ms. Mary Munga, underscored the importance of accountability, saying stronger oversight and partnerships will enable the agency to deliver dignity, prosperity, and national cohesion through sustainable water solutions.
