Study identifies water losses as a major threat to Kenya’s water security

Kenya continues to invest heavily in expanding water supply, yet a substantial amount of the water produced by existing systems fails to reach consumers as properly accounted-for water. A new study by Strathmore University identifies reducing these losses as an opportunity to strengthen water security and improve the performance of existing infrastructure.

The study estimates that non-revenue water accounts for approximately 44 per cent of the water produced nationally, more than twice the sector benchmark of 20 per cent. These losses are associated with an estimated KSh 12.37 billion in financial losses each year.

Non-revenue water refers to water produced and supplied by a utility that does not generate corresponding revenue because of leaking infrastructure, inaccurate meters, unauthorised consumption, billing weaknesses and other operational challenges.

The problem is particularly serious in some rural community-managed water systems, where limited technical expertise, weak financial controls and inadequate monitoring make it difficult to identify the sources of water losses and address them effectively.

A study conducted under the Strathmore University Water Governance and Innovation Hub examines the challenge through the Sirembe Community Water and Sanitation Project (SICOWAP) in Siaya County.

The project has an estimated non-revenue water level of 75 per cent and serves approximately 4,862 people through 661 household connections and six water kiosks. The findings illustrate how substantial quantities of water can go unaccounted for even in communities where reliable water supply remains a challenge.

Published in a policy brief titled The Silent Drain: Tackling High Non-Revenue Water in Community-Managed Rural Water Supply Systems, the research examines technical, financial and governance factors affecting the sustainability of rural water services.

The researchers note that water losses are not caused by leaking pipes alone. Other contributing factors include inadequate maintenance, unreliable operational records, faulty or missing meters, illegal connections, weak billing systems and poor financial management.

In many community-managed schemes, maintenance is often carried out only after equipment breaks down or infrastructure fails. This reactive approach can allow minor faults to develop into larger problems, increasing repair costs and reducing the reliability of water services.

Revenue losses also create a cycle that makes it difficult for providers to improve their systems. When water is lost or supplied without proper billing, the income available for repairing pipes, maintaining pumps and replacing equipment declines. Limited funds can then contribute to further deterioration of the infrastructure.

Metering and monitoring are equally important. Without accurate meters and dependable records, providers cannot establish how much water enters their systems, how much consumers use and how much remains unaccounted for. This information is essential for distinguishing legitimate consumption from losses caused by leaks, illegal connections and other operational weaknesses.

The researchers therefore recommend preventive maintenance, improved metering, stronger monitoring systems and better financial controls to help community water providers identify losses early and manage their resources more effectively.

The study also raises questions about how rural water systems should be governed. Although community management allows residents to participate in decisions concerning their water services, the researchers argue that communities need adequate technical and institutional support to manage increasingly complex infrastructure.

They propose a hybrid governance model that retains community participation while strengthening collaboration with county governments and technical service providers. Under this arrangement, communities would continue overseeing day-to-day operations, while county authorities and technical partners would provide professional assistance, supervision, reporting and performance monitoring.

The recommendations are particularly relevant as Kenya faces increasing pressure on its water resources from population growth, urbanisation and climate change. While developing new water sources and expanding infrastructure remain important, improving the efficiency of existing systems could help increase the amount of water available to consumers without relying exclusively on additional production.

The research was undertaken through a multidisciplinary collaboration involving Strathmore University, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Africa Water Watch Limited, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Technical University and Ghana’s Community Water and Sanitation Agency under the Ecological Sustainability of Rural Water Systems (EcoRural) Project.

Funded through the IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme, the research also drew on contributions from the Sirembe community and the Siaya County Department of Water. Its team brought together expertise in water governance, engineering, public health, financing, gender and institutional strengthening.

The findings highlight the need to address water losses through coordinated technical, financial and governance measures. For Kenya, reducing non-revenue water could help water providers improve their financial sustainability, make better use of existing infrastructure and deliver more reliable services to the communities they serve.