Kwale County has unveiled a series of ambitious water supply and sanitation projects aimed at improving access to clean water and promoting better hygiene for both urban and rural residents. Governor Fatuma Achani announced the rollout during a tour of project sites in Diani, accompanied by County Water Executive Hemedi Mwabudzo and Eric Parmet, Managing Director of the Kwale Water and Sewerage Company. The initiatives include the Mabokoni-Kilole urban water project and multiple rural schemes involving boreholes and dams, designed to address long-standing water shortages across the coastal county.
The Diani municipality project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Kwale Water Company, will drill nine new boreholes, construct large storage tanks, and upgrade existing pipelines. According to Parmet, the project is expected to supply an additional 10 million cubic litres of water per day, benefiting over 2,000 residents in Ukunda, Tiwi, Kombani, and Check Point areas. The county has also invested in rural water infrastructure, constructing 17 dams, drilling 40 boreholes, and laying 500 kilometers of bulk pipelines since 2022. These efforts aim to relieve the burden of water collection, particularly for women and girls, while enhancing food security and livestock water supply.
The county government anticipates that the new projects will significantly improve health, hygiene, and livelihoods in both urban and rural communities. Governor Achani emphasized that the water schemes are not only critical for domestic use but also support irrigation and agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid areas. Parmet urged communities to maintain the infrastructure to ensure its sustainability, while residents expressed optimism that the projects would end chronic water scarcity and contribute to socioeconomic development in Kwale. Completion of the major urban and rural projects is expected by the end of 2025, marking a key milestone in the county’s efforts to enhance essential services.