Recycling a Scarce Resource
Caleb Munyao, a 48-year-old middle-scale farmer from Kenya’s eastern region, understands the importance of water better than most. On his 13-hectare farm, where he grows maize, yellow beans, and mangoes, every drop of water is precious.
Kenya, like many countries in Africa, faces significant challenges in managing its water resources. The country’s water scarcity issues are exacerbated by climate change, rapid urbanisation, and inconsistent rainfall patterns.
However, amid these challenges, innovative solutions are emerging, driven by partnerships with international companies. Most notably, Chinese companies have been at the forefront of developing sewage treatment projects in Kenya, providing new avenues for water management and sustainability.
Munyao is one of the many beneficiaries of recent infrastructure developments, including the sewage treatment projects initiated by Chinese companies. These projects not only address waste management, but also explore the potential of recycling wastewater for non-potable uses, such as irrigation, an essential innovation in a country where water is increasingly scarce.
Chinese cooperation
The distance from Munyao’s farm to Kitui, a town approximately 180 km from Nairobi, highlights the geographical and logistical challenges in managing water resources across Kenya.
A typical drive from Nairobi to Kitui takes around three to four hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. This journey, although routine for many, underscores the significance of local infrastructure in supporting Kenya’s agricultural and rural communities.
“It is value addition to my crops considering that water is a scarce commodity. I work closely with large Chinese companies that make my dreams real,” said Munyao.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, about 462,000 cubic metres of water are pumped from Kenyan reservoirs each day. However, this volume is far from sufficient to meet the demands of the entire population, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where water scarcity is acute.
Climate change, characterised by erratic weather patterns and prolonged droughts, is a primary cause of the country’s water woes. However, other factors, such as deforestation, poor land management, and the over-extraction of groundwater, have also contributed to the growing crisis.
“To combat these issues, Kenya has turned to international partnerships, notably with Chinese companies, which have been instrumental in constructing modern sewage treatment facilities. These projects aim to reduce the burden on the country’s natural water resources by treating and recycling wastewater, thus making it available for non-potable uses like agriculture, landscaping, and industrial processes,” said Aden Duale, the country’s newly appointed cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
The involvement of Chinese companies in Kenya’s infrastructure development is not new. Over the past decade, China has become a key player in Africa’s infrastructure sector, investing billions of dollars in roads, railways, and energy projects across the continent.
“We are working closely with other ministries, including Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. A lot of Chinese companies have gone out of their way to improve our water sustainability,” said Duale.
These include Jiangxi Construction Engineering Group. Chief Financial Officer Yu Keming, who represents the company in both Kenya and Zambia, said that they are treating about 80,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day.
“We hope to increase our water treatment capacity with time as we do more upgrades in the Dandora Sewage Treatment Plant. We have multiple responsibilities,” said Yu. The treatment plant is located about 30 km from Nairobi and its current output accounts for 80 percent of Nairobi’s wastewater according to SMEC, an international infrastructure consulting company.
He said that they are constructing a few other plants in Mombasa, Kisumu and Meru.
In addition, the China Henan International Corp. Group is spearheading two plants in Nairobi. Apart from expanding sewer networks, it is also building more boreholes.
“We are recycling sewage water in a big way. By also expanding the sewers, we have increased water capacity and treatment capabilities,” said Wanjiku Njuguna, the member of Parliament for Kiambaa County. “We are [also] working closely with China Henan International Corp. Group. We hope to produce 200,000 cubic metres of water by the time upgrades are complete by mid-2025.”
Innovative water solutions needed
In Kenya, Chinese companies have built major highways, expanded Mombasa Port, and developed the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway. These infrastructure projects have significantly improved Kenya’s logistical and economic landscape, making it easier to move goods and services across the country and beyond.
Duale said that the sewage treatment plants are a natural extension of this infrastructure cooperation. These plants, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, are designed to treat domestic and industrial wastewater to a level where it can be safely reused for irrigation and other non-potable purposes.
This approach not only conserves fresh water for drinking and sanitation, but also provides a reliable source of water for farmers like Munyao, who rely on consistent water supplies to grow their crops.
Water recycling is a relatively new concept in Kenya, but it holds great promise. By treating sewage water and redirecting it for agricultural use, these plants can help to mitigate the effects of water scarcity, especially in regions that are hardest hit by drought. For farmers, this means a more reliable water supply, which can lead to increased agricultural productivity.
Questions have also been circulating about the environmental impact of these plants.
But Duale said that despite these concerns, the potential benefits of water recycling in Kenya are clear. “With water scarcity becoming an increasingly urgent issue, the country needs innovative solutions to manage its water resources more effectively. The partnership with Chinese companies offers a path forward, combining infrastructure development with sustainability practices that could have a lasting impact on Kenya’s water security.”
“Results showed there was no negative environmental health impacts on people, as the latest clean air technologies are used. It is climate smart,” said Elizabeth Wathuti, a well-known Kenyan pollution control and waste management expert who also partners with government on these projects.
Apart from sewage, other types of waste water are recycled in partnership with the government and local Kenyan companies. Kenyan authorities are therefore also exploring ways to ensure that local expertise is developed alongside these projects.
“Our goal is not just to rely on foreign companies, but to build our own capacity,” said Duale. “We are working to train local engineers and technicians to maintain and operate these [water recycling] facilities.”
