Kwale County has signed a Sh1.4 billion agreement with the World Bank and the Kwale Water and Sewerage Company (KWAWASCO) to improve water supply in Diani municipality, one of Kenya’s prime tourism destinations. The project aims to tackle long-standing water shortages by expanding piped water coverage, constructing new urban water schemes, and rehabilitating existing pipelines to ensure households and businesses enjoy a reliable supply of safe water.
The agreement was formalized during a ceremony attended by Governor Salim Mvurya, Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani, Cabinet Secretary for Water Simon Chelegui, and other county officials. As part of the launch, three water bowsers were deployed to support the initiative. The project includes drilling 11 boreholes, building two large storage tanks, setting up a water testing laboratory, constructing an office block, and replacing old pipelines while extending new ones to Kubo South. Once complete, the system is expected to supply 2.1 million cubic litres of water per day, a significant increase from the current 5,000 cubic litres against a daily demand of 13,000 cubic litres.
Governor Mvurya highlighted that Diani, consistently recognized as Africa’s top beach destination, will greatly benefit from the upgraded water infrastructure. The initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure sustainable water access in Kwale’s rapidly growing urban centres. Other projects such as the Marere springs pipeline and the construction of local dams like Nyalani and Makamini have complemented these efforts, addressing water scarcity in the county’s drier regions.
County officials said the project will be closely supervised by both the World Bank and local authorities to guarantee timely completion within 12 months. Beyond supporting tourism, the new infrastructure is expected to improve sanitation, create jobs, and enhance the quality of life for residents. The county government also emphasized that reliable water supply is crucial for economic growth, industrial development, and positioning Kwale as a model for urban water management along the coast.