Kenya seeks Ksh1.6 trillion to fund water‑harvesting dams, eyes PPPs to close financing gap

Kenya estimates a Ksh1.6 trillion need for water‑harvesting infrastructure, with the national budget covering only 20%, prompting a push for public‑private partnerships and new funding mechanisms.

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The government estimates that about Ksh1.6 trillion is required to build water‑harvesting infrastructure such as dams to boost domestic supply and irrigation, while the current budget can meet just 20 percent of that amount.

Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir said the shortfall has led the government to look for alternative financing, notably public‑private partnerships, to accelerate water‑sector projects.

Korir noted that PPP arrangements are being pursued to bridge the roughly 80 percent financing gap, with several projects already in the pipeline.

Two of the PPP projects under development aim to provide irrigation water in the Bura and Galana areas, and officials expect some of these deals to be finalised soon.

The Africa Development Bank and World Bank have funded dam projects such as Thwake and Mwache, which are now nearing completion, and the government is in talks with Danida about constructing a new dam in Kiambu County.

A proposed National Infrastructure Fund will also support water‑sector initiatives, with 50 mega‑dams already identified for development and some slated to receive financing from the fund.