State Unveils Strategic Water Project at Kinanie Leather Park

The State Department for Water and Sanitation has completed and commissioned dedicated water infrastructure serving the leather manufacturing hub in Machakos County. Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Julius Korir led the official commissioning ceremony at the industrial site on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (MOWSI) confirmed that the newly commissioned infrastructure will supply clean water directly to processing facilities within the zone. Executive officials from regional utility agencies and local administration accompanied the principal secretary during the site inspection.

Known formally as the Kinanie Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project, the government-funded utility development addresses long-standing water supply challenges in Mavoko Sub-County. The project targeted high-volume industrial processing requirements alongside local community distribution needs.

Implementation of the primary supply scheme fell under the direct supervision of the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency (TAWWDA). Technical teams oversaw complex civil engineering works designed to handle large daily delivery volumes required for tanning operations.

Core construction elements included laying a 25-kilometer High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline to transport bulk supply to the industrial park. The pipeline network links intake sources directly to primary distribution structures across the development area.

Contractors constructed a 1,000-cubic-meter reinforced concrete storage tank to maintain reserve storage capacities for factory operations. Ancillary site works encompassed protective security fencing, site clearing, and heavy-duty concrete support slabs.

Funding for the Phase II and Phase III development cycles came directly from the national government. Total capital expenditure for these key execution phases reached Kenya Shillings (Ksh) 292.77 million.

Engineers designed the hydraulic distribution system to integrate smoothly with auxiliary supply lines across the district. The network can withstand heavy operational pressure during peak manufacturing hours when factory demand reaches its maximum level.

The formal commissioning follows rigorous pressure testing across the main transmission pipeline and concrete storage reservoirs. Technical crews verified pipe integrity and system flow rates, ensuring all structural components met required standards before operational launch.

Besides supporting industrial tanneries, the facility incorporates dedicated branch lines for community distribution points. The broader design includes connections to public water kiosks and dedicated storage tanks for neighboring primary schools.

Government officials emphasized that robust utility provision remains essential for operating specialized economic zones. Continuous bulk water delivery prevents expensive operational delays for leather processing plants, which depend heavily on uninterrupted supply.

Earlier phases of the water project involved survey operations, site clearing, and intake facility structural engineering. Project managers resolved initial land access issues and pipeline routing challenges during the preliminary engineering stages.

The project forms part of a broader national strategy to equip strategic industrial parks with specialized civil infrastructure. Similar water distribution schemes are currently being executed in adjoining administrative zones across Machakos and neighboring counties.

Local leaders and industrial representatives welcomed the project completion during the official unveiling. Officials unveiled the commemorative plaque at the reservoir site before opening the primary control valves to start flow through the main pipe.

The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (MOWSI) will maintain technical oversight through local water service providers. Operations teams will monitor supply pressure and conduct routine maintenance to ensure continuous delivery across the entire park.

With commissioning completed, industrial operators can now connect factory piping directly to the main supply header. Commercial water delivery to the leather manufacturing zone is expected to begin immediately under the new distribution system.