The Water and Sanitation Providers Association (WASPA) has embarked on creating innovative financing solutions to facilitate sustainable and equitable water and sanitation services across the country.

By incorporating private, public, and philanthropic capital, WASPA seeks to unlock new opportunities for growth in the water and sanitation sector.

Thomas Odongo, WASPA chair who doubles as the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company MD, said the goal is to create financial models that support long-term infrastructure investments while improving access for underserved communities.

“We do recognise that there is a huge financing gap for water utilities, and so far, we have partnered with Co-operative Bank for the provision of concessional loans to facilitate the implementation of last-mile connectivity and infrastructural development,” he stated.

Further, Odongo noted that the association will be holding an international conference in partnership with the Ministry of Water in June this year which seeks to address the existing financing challenges in the sector.

He spoke during a bi-monthly meeting of WASPA members in Ruiru, Kiambu County, that brought together representatives of 88 water service providers from across the country as well as associate members and agencies to review progress and challenges.

Kiambu Water, Environment and Natural Resources County Executive Committee (CEC) member David Kuria expressed concern that most water companies in the devolved region are reeling under huge electricity bills running in hundreds of millions of shillings.

He divulged that all eight water distribution firms incur a cumulative monthly bill of Sh70 million, which translates to Sh840 million annually.

To mitigate this and help the water providers stay afloat, the CEC member stated that the county has initiated alternative sources of power to pump water, and a number of the supply companies have embraced the initiative.