Whenever the sun rises and sweeps across Kilifi, its rays illuminate the keys to a sustainable solution for a county facing an acute water crisis. In the face of hosting two of Kenya’s major water sources — Baricho Wellfield and Mzima Springs — Kilifi grapples with water supply deficit. With a rising population and growing demand for water, the region demands 265,000 cubic meters (m³) of water daily. However, its existent supply comes short by 200,000 m³, leaving households, factories, hotels, and farmers struggling with severe shortages.
In the midst of the challenge, there lies a unique opportunity to reword the county’s story. Speaking at the Kilifi International Investment Conference, Stephen Adwong’a, Miale Solar Inventions’ chief executive, delivered a rallying call: “transition to solar power to transform the Kilifi water sector.”
“This isn’t by any means just a crisis,” Adwong’a professed, “It’s a rallying cry to harness the limitless power of our vicious Kenyan sun to unlock Kilifi’s water future while hacking down operational costs.”
Kilifi’s Water Crisis in Numbers
Dr. Omar Said, the Kilifi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Natural Resources & Climate Change, reiterated, “Kilifi County experiences a water crisis of overwhelming proportions. Our reliance on diesel and grid electricity for water pumping is proving to be consistently costly and obviously, unjustifiable. This burdens our residents with high water bills and recurrent supply interruptions.”
Nestled along sun-drenched coastlines, Kilifi remains a land of paradoxes. Its water supply depends worryingly on the Baricho Wellfield and Mzima Springs, critical water resources that pump water to municipalities like Malindi, Mtwapa, and Kilifi. The Baricho Wellfield, for instance, with its fifteen boreholes, produces upwards of 112,000 m³/day, while Mzima Springs subsidizes 40,000 m³/day. Nevertheless, operational challenges have persisted. Water pumping is powered primarily by grid electricity and diesel generators, with the costs of diesel averaging as much as Ksh173 per liter (USD 1.28) and electricity rates soaring to nearly Ksh25 ($0.22) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — among the highest in Africa.
According to Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA), “the Baricho Wellfield, Kilifi’s primary water source, operates 15 boreholes pumping millions of liters daily. But this operation comes at an environmental and financial cost. With water demand increasingly surging due to population growth and economic activity, the gap widens, and traditional energy sources seem increasingly unsustainable.”
The financial risk is manifest. Water utility companies such as the Kilifi-Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company (KIMAWASCO) and Malindi Water & Sewerage Company (MAWASCO) apportion practically 30 percent of their operational outlays to energy costs. For the county’s water consumers, this transforms into costly water bills. These raise water tariffs, making access to affordable water another major concern. Recurrent blackouts and fuel shortages also cause disruptions to the already strained supply. Besides, dependency on fossil fuels donates squarely to environmental degradation, conflicting with global climate goals.
“Kilifi’s dependence on fossil fuels and the grid is not just unjustifiably costly. It’s not sustainable,” Adwong’a remarked in the course of his presentation.
Solar Water Pumps a Promising Solution
Adwong’a painted an optimistic portrait of solar-powered water pumps transforming the sector.
“Kilifi County is the perfect place for solar energy systems because it receives an average of 6.4 hours of sunlight each day. The county could significantly save operating expenses, increase dependability, and meet international sustainability targets by utilizing this plentiful resource,” explained Adwong’a.
Adwong’a adverted to Miale Solar’s success with the Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company (Naivawasco) as a blueprint for what the Kilifi County Government can achieve.
The success of Naivawasco serves as a compelling case study. Before adopting solar energy, Naivawasco could spend Ksh125 million annually on grid electricity. Following Miale Solar’s installation of a 1.23 MWp grid-tied solar PV system, the Naivasha-based utility company now saves not less than Ksh21.6 million every year, with energy costs brought down to the neighborhoods of 20% during the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) period. After the PPA tenure, Naivawasco’s savings are projected to rise to Ksh45 million annually, which is a 36% cost reduction.
Adwong’a highlighted how the Kilifi County Government could replicate this model. With zero upfront investment, KIMAWASCO and MAWASCO could partner with Miale Solar to implement solar systems to benefit from significant savings and long-term ownership of infrastructure approximated at Ksh175 million.
Learning from Global Success
Elsewhere, outside of Kenya, water management is rapidly changing due solar-powered water pumps. For example, India has linked at least 2.4 million solar pumps under its ground-breaking Kusum Scheme, reducing farmers’ irrigation expenses by 40–60%. Additionally, the program has decreased CO2 emissions by 1.2 million tons per year. The Kilifi County Government can duplicate this case study’s demonstration of the scalability of solar systems, even in isolated and rural areas.
Kenya, on the other hand, falls behind, with solar pumps accounting for less than 1% of sectoral solutions. But it has enormous potential. Utility companies KIMAWASCO and MAWASCO in Kilifi County potential to drastically reduce expenses while ensuring a reliable water supply if they use solar energy.
Adwong’a said: “Kilifi utilities could reduce energy prices by 25–50% during PPA tenures and subsequently save money beyond the PPA by integrating solar. We at Miale Solar have seen this impact ourselves. Without requiring any expenditure from the organization in charge of the unit, Kilifi may save at least Ksh10 million a month by switching a single pumping unit at Baricho to solar power.”
Strategic Recommendations for Kilifi County
Adwong’a proposed a multi-pronged approach that the Kilifi County Government can apply to leverage solar energy:
“First, in order to completely switch water utilities to solar, Miale Solar could install solar-powered water pumps in collaboration with KIMAWASCO and MAWASCO, which would lower energy costs and guarantee a steady supply.
“We also suggest desalination using solar electricity. You see, Kilifi’s closeness to the Indian Ocean gives it the perfect location for solar-powered desalination plants, which would help with the daily water shortfall of 200,000 m³.”
Additional propositions by Adwong’a included public-private partnerships (PPPs), where KIMAWASCO and MAWASCO could partner with Miale Solar to unlock funding and expertise for sustainable water projects.
Development partners may be asked to provide guarantees under PPPs in order to draw in additional investors and help the water sector overcome bankability issues. Adwong’a stressed that in order to implement the project, Kilifi County should also establish special purpose vehicles with bankable guarantees.
For long-term operational sustainability, lease-to-own and power purchase agreement (PPA) models can also be used without requiring the County to provide upfront funding. By lowering water costs and boosting dependable supply in underserved areas, these strategies will guarantee the widespread adoption of solar water pumps.
The other strategy is to pilot and scale solar-powered desalination and smart water systems.
“To supply coastal populations with drinkable water, we propose three main strategic approaches, one of which is carrying out feasibility studies for integrating solar desalination facilities. In order to optimize water distribution, minimize waste, and improve accountability, we recommend the implementation of smart water metering systems powered by solar,” said Adwong’a, adding that, “finally, before making the entire switch to solar, we advise testing out cutting-edge options like hybrid solar systems for high-demand areas.”
Therefore…
Adopting solar water pumps offers Kilifi County the chance to address urgent issues, cut expenses, and guarantee sustainable water access for future generations.
Solar energy is a lifeline as Kilifi confronts an uncertain future due to growing water demand and unsustainable energy costs. “Now is the moment to take action,” Adwong’a suggested. “Imagine Kilifi free from the tyranny of diesel costs. Imagine a steady supply of water, driven by the sun, to every home, business, and farm. Kilifi possesses the potential, resources, and sunlight. The will to accept the change is all that is required.”
Adwong’a’s message at the conference was clear: Kilifi’s water sector must embrace solar energy to overcome its challenges and build a sustainable future. With Miale Solar as a partner, the county can harness the power of the sun to quench its water needs, reduce costs, and lead Kenya’s transition to renewable energy.