African Development Bank provides loan to improve wastewater services in Nairobi

The African Development Bank is providing a loan of €62.914m to support sustainable wastewater services through the Nairobi Rivers Basin Rehabilitation and Restoration Program: Sewerage Improvement Project Phase II.

This project is co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) with an additional amount of €20m.

The project aims to boost access, quality, and sustainability of wastewater services in Nairobi City as well as help to restore the river basin.

Around 500,000 people are expected to benefit from the project, which involves construction of 220km sewer reticulation network including faecal sludge management infrastructure, rehabilitation and construction of wastewater treatment facilities at Dandora, and construction and rehabilitation of 100 toilet facilities in Nairobi’s informal settlements.

Furthermore, the project will support Athi Water Services Board and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company through institutional strengthening in order to provide improved sanitation services.

ADB  water and sanitation director Wambui Gichuri said: “Delayed and inadequate investments in wastewater management have resulted in poor wastewater services in Nairobi.

Gichuri further added that this “project will deliver safe, adequate and reliable sanitation services, reducing health risks and economic burdens.”

The total cost of the project is estimated to be €70.841m.

ADB is providing  €59.407m loan,  while €3.507m loan is being provided by its African Development Fund (4.9%).

The project will be implemented in 48 months and will boost access to sanitation services from 48% to 70%.

An estimated 4.4 million people, representing about 9% of the country’s total population of 48.5 million, live in Nairobi.

Every year, Kenya loses an estimated 1% of its GDP due to improper sanitation facilities.