Chinese Joint Venture Clinches Sh3bn Contract for Nairobi Water and Sewerage Overhaul

Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) has formalised a Sh3 billion infrastructure agreement with a joint venture of Chinese firms to modernise water and sewerage systems in Nairobi. The contract, awarded to Zhongmei Engineering Group and Hunan Construction Investment, focuses on the city’s western corridor, an area that has seen rapid residential expansion outpace existing utility capacity.

The project is financed through a partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD). It aims to address the critical deficit in service delivery for approximately 300,000 residents in neighborhoods including Kawangware, Dagoretti, Karen, Kangemi, and Riruta. The technical scope of the work includes the installation of a 19.7-kilometre high-capacity water transmission pipeline running from Kabete to Olesereni.

To stabilise water pressure and ensure a consistent supply during peak demand, the contractors will construct a 5,500-cubic-metre reinforced concrete storage tank in Karen. This component is designed to mitigate the frequent rationing and low-pressure issues currently experienced by households and businesses in the western suburbs.

On the sanitation side, the joint venture is tasked with delivering 63 kilometres of new sewer reticulation networks. This expansion is expected to bring modern sewerage services to 250,000 residents, reducing the reliance on septic tanks and pit latrines that pose long-term environmental and public health risks to the capital.

Speaking during the contract signing, AWWDA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Joseph Kamau, emphasised that the project has been structured around a strict 24-month implementation timeline. Kamau noted that the agency’s priority is disciplined execution and adherence to technical standards to ensure the new assets meet the city’s requirements for the next several decades.

The investment arrives at a time when Nairobi County estimates that a total of Sh20 billion is required to fully upgrade the city’s ageing and overextended water and sewer pipes. While this Sh3 billion deal is a significant step, it represents part of a broader master plan to secure Nairobi’s urban water security.

The upgrade is also expected to curb the high levels of non-revenue water, which is currently lost through leakages in old asbestos-cement pipes. By installing modern high-density polyethylene pipes and improving the monitoring of the network, the agency hopes to improve the overall financial and operational efficiency of water distribution in the region.

Work on the western corridor is scheduled to begin immediately, with the contractors expected to mobilise equipment to the sites in the coming weeks. The project remains a central pillar of the government’s infrastructure agenda for 2026, targeting improved liveability in the city’s fastest-growing residential zones.