Residents of Nakuru are set to benefit from enhanced access to clean and improved sanitation services after a multi-billion upgrade and expansion of the water and sewage system commenced after a five-year delay.
Governor Susan Kihika, said the upgrade dubbed the ‘The Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project’ is funded through a Sh 5.6 billion grant from the German Development Bank.
Governor Kihika indicated that one of the highlights of the mega project will be the decommissioning of the 66-year-old Kaloleni Waste Water Treatment Plant, which will be phased-out and its waste directed to the upgraded Njoro Treatment Works which has the capacity to process 20,000 cubic meters of waste per day.
“The project, which suffered implementation delays dating back to 2021, was fast-tracked after we had intense consultations with various state agencies and development partners that unlocked stalled administrative processes. To advance implementation, key stakeholders convened for the official kick-off meeting for phase one of the project bringing together contractors, project management teams and government agencies,” stated the Governor.
Key players in the project include the German Development Bank (KfW), Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Central Rift Water Works Development Agency (CRWWDA), the County Government of Nakuru, Kenya Wildlife Service and Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO).
The County Boss affirmed that while the project will involve expanding the water supply network and upgrading the aged water supply and dilapidated sewerage treatment system, it will also focus on cleaning of water flowing into Lake Nakuru.
“The focus on cleaning water flowing into Lake Nakuru is to safeguard the water body from pollution by preventing untreated water from flowing into it. We are determined to secure the Lake’s delicate ecosystem and biodiversity,” stated Kihika.
The Lake Nakuru Biodiversity Conservation Project will encompass increasing water supply through new boreholes, rehabilitation of water reticulation systems and revitalization of pipelines, optimization of existing well fields and construction of water reservoirs.
The five-year project will be implemented by the CRVWWDA jointly with the Nakuru County Government.
The sewer network will be expanded and rehabilitated to handle more waste water.
“We intend to expand the sewerage system to various estates in Nakuru city which have for long been relying on alternative methods of waste disposal, including septic tanks. We will also upgrade our two existing treatment plants in Kivumbini and Mwariki,” added Ms Kihika.
Kihika said expansion of the over 60-year-old sewerage system will come as a relief to residents who for decades have had to contend with a dilapidated system, already bursting under pressure due to population growth
Only Milimani, Langa Langa, London, the town centre, Racecourse and Freehold Estates have access to sewerage services.
A significant number of estates in the City, including upcoming residential estates, are not linked to the sewer system. They include Bismarck, Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI), Kiamunyi and Ranges View, which adjoins the affluent Milimani.
Others that are not connected to the main sewer line include Ngata, Mwariki, Baruti, Langa Langa and the informal settlements of Kivumbini, Lake View, Kwa Rhoda, Kaptembwa, Kaloleni and Bondeni.
Residents in these Estates rely on septic tanks. When their septic tanks are full, they hire exhausters which charge between Sh2, 000 and Sh3, 000 per trip to take out their waste to the main sewer treatment plant.
In virtually all these Estates connected to the old sewerage system, the sight of raw sewage is a common sight with sewer lines sometimes bursting and leaking, putting residents at risk of contracting diseases.
Governor Kihika observed that the upgrade of the sewerage system is set to reduce the impact of overloading that leads to leakages, adding that since Nakuru had attained City status, sanitation had to be given priority in terms of having clean water and a proper sewerage system.
Under the project, the devolved unit will revamp the sewage system, to increase its coverage in Nakuru East, Nakuru West and other areas that were incorporated into Nakuru City.
In May this year, Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation, Julius Korir, said the investment would strengthen water supply and reliability as urbanization increases demand in Nakuru and surrounding areas.
The project combines waste water treatment, sewerage rehabilitation and water supply improvements.
According to CRWWDA published project details, the programme includes a new Njoro treatment facility, rehabilitation of approximately 65 kilometers of sewer network, 12 new boreholes, improvements to four existing wellfields and a 10,000-cubic-metre water storage reservoir.
It is also designed to include pretreatment works with a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres daily, alongside primary and secondary treatment systems.
The design also provides for maturation ponds, effluent outfall infrastructure and sludge-handling facilities.
The project will also redirect wastewater from the ageing Kivumbini treatment plant towards the upgraded Njoro facility.
Rehabilitation of older sewer pipelines, including those in Old Town, is intended to reduce leakages and improve the conveyance of raw sewage for treatment.
Nakuru County has faced persistent pressure on its sanitation infrastructure as the city expands.
An estimated 300 million litres of wastewater are generated daily by households, in the City straining the ageing infrastructure.
The County’s FY2025/2026 First-Quarter Budget Implementation Report, identifies expansion of the Njoro wastewater treatment facility to 20,000 cubic metres per day as a project target.
It also lists plans to connect approximately 18,000 additional households to the sewer network and drill and equip 12 boreholes.
Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO) separately reports that its sewer system serves about 27 per cent of customers, with the existing Njoro treatment plant designed for a loading capacity of 9,600 cubic metres daily.
The Company also operates the Old Town treatment plant, which has a reported capacity of 6,600 cubic metres per day.
The United Nations’ 2025 Sustainable Development Goals Report found that only 56 per cent of domestic wastewater globally was safely treated.
The report identifies wastewater management as a major challenge for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
It also identifies pollution and the effects of urban growth as continuing conservation concerns.
by Jane Ngugi and Jefther Afuyo
