As a licensed water service provider in Kenya, Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company Ltd (KIWASCO) relies on Lake Victoria and River Kibos as its main sources of water to serve the city of Kisumu. These vital sources are increasingly impacted by global climate change and local environmental challenges. The utility faces issues such as fertiliser runoff from farms upstream into the river, an infestation of water hyacinth plants in the lake, and rising lake levels. Furthermore, the seasonal nature of the river due to human activities such as logging and clearing of forests, pollution from other small rivers passing through low-income areas, drainages and surface runoffs channelled into the lake carrying debris and all manner of plastic and pollutants continue to affect KIWASCO’s operations, as it results in low-quality raw water.  A recent lake upwelling that has resulted in fish kills poses a significant danger to the utility’s operations by further deteriorating water quality. Compounding these issues, sanitation remains a critical challenge in many low-income communities where access to clean and sanitary facilities is limited. 

Adapting to climate change 

Despite these numerous challenges faced by the utility, KIWASCO has successfully implemented several strategies to enhance its operations and ensure a reliable water supply for Kisumu. A key initiative includes constructing a barrier around its pump house to avert the problem of submersion resulting from rising lake levels through internally generated funds. 

 Nature-based solutions (NBS) have also been incorporated into KIWASCO’s water adaptation actions. Since 2018, the utility has set out to plant trees along the riverbanks and has so far planted over 100,000 tree seedlings that have been nurtured well. This ongoing programme aims to cover an additional 10 acres during the long rains, enhancing the resilience of water sources and improving water quality. Every water utility strives to provide consumers with high-quality water. Despite the multiple water quality challenges which the utility faces, KIWASCO is devoted to ensuring that customers receive high-quality water by monitoring the finished product to high standards.  To ensure a continuous water supply, the utility has implemented rationing programmes and ensures timely communication. This ensures that everyone still receives the scarce resource, as water is essential for life. 

Additionally, the utility has invested in an initiative known as the Saniwise toilet to curb plastic and waste pollution from the low-income areas that ends up in the lake. For the utility, this has been one of the biggest threats as many rivers pass through the low-income areas of the city and, considering sewer coverage is only at 18%, there was the need for urgent interventions. With sanitation considered a major issue worldwide, KIWASCO acknowledges that empowering local communities and involving them in the solution is crucial. This innovation aims to provide an effective and sustainable solution to sanitation challenges. The Saniwise toilet approach utilises recycled plastic waste as the primary construction material. By repurposing plastic waste, this initiative tackles two significant challenges simultaneously: promoting environmental sustainability by reducing plastic waste and addressing sanitation issues in low-income areas. This approach demonstrates a commitment to circular economy principles, where waste is transformed into valuable resources. Lastly, one of the most remarkable features of the Saniwise toilet is its integration of black soldier fly maggots, nature’s efficient decomposers, in the waste management process. These maggots play a crucial role in breaking down waste into nutrient-rich manure and high-protein feed for chickens. By utilising this natural process, the Saniwise toilet not only ensures proper waste disposal but also creates valuable by-products for agricultural purposes, thus promoting a sustainable and self-sufficient ecosystem. 

 Communication with citizens 

 KIWASCO considers capacity building a very key component when dealing with water quality. The utility has provided training to its quality and production employees in a number of areas – to enhance water treatments and adjust from one type of chemical to another depending on the quality of raw water and the problem at hand, as well as introduce new processes. A multisectoral approach is also employed in the afforestation programmes by undertaking several awareness campaigns with the surrounding communities on the safe use of water. Additionally, the Saniwise initiative has seen mentoring of support groups on the generation of ethanol from the waste in the waste treatment plant, demonstrating a sustainable approach to waste management. 

Having experienced sanitation issues within low-income areas, KIWASCO has also positioned itself as a catalyst for attracting viable partners who can provide lasting solutions to its problems. One such is the Fresh Life company that offers sanitation solutions through its toilets dubbed Fresh Life. The utility did not only sign an MOU because the FreshLife Toilet concept required small spaces in the low-income areas, but also because of its convenience as they were affordable and clean, offering much-needed relief to both landlords and tenants who could not construct permanent structures in their areas due to the areas being waterlogged. Currently over 500 toilets have been installed, with expansion to other areas. Encouraged by this success, KIWASCO is extending these efforts to other areas and is signing additional MOUs with other water service providers.  

Lessons learned 

• The world is rapidly changing, necessitating the need to adapt.  

• Employees are considered as utility’s biggest asset and should be empowered through training, allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them. 

• Constant stakeholder engagement and communication is key.  

• Customers should always be involved in utility management and also made to share the burden of challenges faced by the utility, that way they feel part and parcel of the organisation and can even empathize with the situation.  

• Not every venture will bring money into the company.  

• Everyone has a role to play, embrace people and play with them as per their strengths. 

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