Kenya Water Institute Strengthens International Collaboration to Boost Water Harvesting Capacity
The Mt Kenya Times 
County Government of Machakos representatives, Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) officials, and the Gansu Institute of Water Conservancy representatives
By: Cynthia Masibo
The Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), a state corporation under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (MWSI), continues to play a pivotal role in advancing water sector standards through human resource development, research, and consultancy. Established under the Kenya Water Institute Act No. 11 of 2001, KEWI is mandated to promote excellence in the water sector, contributing to Kenya’s vision of achieving a clean, secure, and sustainable environment by 2030.
Despite Kenya receiving approximately 354 billion cubic meters (BCM) of rainwater annually, only a fraction—55.4 million cubic meters—was harvested and stored in the 2021/22 financial year. This stark underutilization highlights the urgent need for enhanced water harvesting and storage strategies to optimize available resources and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
KEWI has prioritized training, research, and innovation to equip water sector professionals with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. The Institute’s efforts extend beyond national borders, emphasizing capacity building, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and gender equality. KEWI’s role in developing a pool of competent professionals is critical for delivering technical, advisory, research, and training services that address the sector’s evolving challenges.
The Institute boasts several strengths that underpin its collaborative efforts. KEWI has a multidisciplinary team of experts and operates as a national strategic institution with a mandate that extends locally and internationally. It is well-equipped to implement multinational programs and has a proven track record in international training, having hosted professionals from 13 African countries on Non-Revenue Water (NRW) management. The first cohort was trained in 2024, with a second scheduled for November 2025, and Malawi is set to join upcoming training sessions.
KEWI is recognized across Africa as a benchmark for capacity development, with countries such as Namibia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania consulting the Institute for expertise. The organization enjoys strong support from the Kenyan government and the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. It manages major projects like the African Development Bank (AfDB) funded sanitation program and collaborates with bilateral partners including NUFFIC, JICA, and DANIDA.
Furthermore, KEWI maintains robust frameworks and working relationships with various institutions, positioning it well to implement crosscutting programs both nationally and internationally.
A notable recent development is KEWI’s partnership with China’s Gansu Academy for Water Conservancy (GAWC), supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. This collaboration aims to share China’s extensive experience and expertise in rainwater and runoff harvesting to improve water supply for households, agriculture, and rural development across Eastern Africa.
The Chairperson of the KEWI board of directors Patrick Musili, spoke On the partnership which began with an online training session conducted by GAWC for technical personnel from the region. This was followed by an international training hosted at KEWI from December 5th to 19th, 2023. The second phase took place in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China, from June 27th to July 16th, 2024. Strengthening the ties further, KEWI’s senior management visited Gansu on October 13, 2024, for a week-long workshop to discuss future collaboration prospects.
Through these initiatives, KEWI is reinforcing its commitment to enhancing water harvesting capacity, fostering international cooperation, and advancing sustainable water management practices that are vital for Kenya’s water security and environmental sustainability.
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