Kenya, France partner to upgrade Nairobi’s ageing water pipelines

Water meter. The new upgrades will help stabilize water pressure and improve flow across the network. (Photo: Freepik)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, October 30, 2025

The new upgrades will help stabilize water pressure, improve flow across the network, and curb losses caused by illegal connections and leaks.

Nairobi is set to see a major transformation in its water system as the government and France announce a Sh1.6 billion initiative to modernise the city’s ageing pipelines.

The project, spearheaded by the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD), will tackle persistent water shortages and leaks that have long affected residents and businesses in the Central Business District (CBD) and nearby neighbourhoods.

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Spanning about 97.5 kilometres of pipelines, the project aims to provide reliable water connections to nearly 3,000 households by November 2027.

It forms part of the larger Nairobi Water and Sanitation Project, which is designed to rehabilitate and expand the capital’s water and sewer systems to meet growing demand and ensure a steady supply to all areas.

AWWDA chief executive Joseph Kamau described the initiative as a crucial step in resolving Nairobi’s long-standing water challenges.

“The Central Nairobi Area Water Network Project represents a major leap forward in addressing the challenges of water distribution within our capital city,” Kamau said.

“By deploying trenchless technology for the first time in Kenya, we are ensuring that critical works can proceed with minimal disruption to residents and businesses within the CBD,” he added.

The city’s water system has suffered decades of wear and tear, with old pipelines leading to frequent leaks, service interruptions, and revenue losses.

Non-revenue water, which includes leaks, theft, and unbilled consumption, costs the sector about Sh11.2 billion annually, according to the Water and Sanitation Providers Association (WASPA).

Kamau said the new project will drastically reduce these losses while strengthening the efficiency of the water distribution network.

For the first time in Kenya, the project will use trenchless construction techniques, specifically Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), to lay underground pipelines with minimal disruption to traffic, homes, and businesses.

The approach ensures that residents and commercial activities in high-demand areas such as the Industrial Area, Pumwani, Starehe, Jogoo Road, and Ngara continue without major interruptions.

Kamau explained that the project complements previous infrastructure works, including the Northern Water Collector Tunnel, which currently delivers 140,000 cubic metres of water daily to Nairobi and neighbouring counties.

The new upgrades will help stabilise water pressure, improve flow across the network, and curb losses caused by illegal connections and leaks.

AWWDA highlighted that environmentally conscious methods will be applied throughout construction, aligning with Kenya’s broader sustainability and urban resilience goals.