Water utilities share strategies to cut losses
Water utilities from across Kenya have joined sector experts and development partners in Naivasha for a three-day workshop focused on improving operational efficiency, reducing water losses and strengthening service delivery.
The peer-to-peer workshop, held from October 12 to 14, 2026, was convened by VEI through the WaterWorX programme in collaboration with Dunea. It brought together representatives from water service providers to exchange experiences, discuss operational challenges and identify practical approaches to improving utility performance.
Participating utilities included Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company, Homa Bay County Water and Sanitation Company (HOMAWASCO), Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO), NARUWASCO, NAWASSCOAL, Kericho Water and Sanitation Company (KEWASCO), Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company, and Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO), alongside technical experts and sector partners Xylem and Smart People Africa Ltd.
A key focus of the workshop was reducing non-revenue water (NRW), which refers to treated water that is produced and supplied into a distribution network but does not generate revenue for the utility. Such losses can result from physical leakages, inaccurate metering, illegal connections and weaknesses in billing and revenue collection systems.
Reducing NRW is important for water providers because it can help them recover more revenue, lower operating costs and make better use of available water resources. Improved efficiency can also increase the amount of water available to consumers without requiring equivalent increases in production.
Participants explored technical and commercial approaches to NRW management, asset management, information and communication technology, digitalisation, operational processes, water safety and climate resilience.
Utility presentations and interactive group discussions enabled participants to share practical experiences, examine challenges affecting their operations and learn from approaches adopted by their counterparts. The exchanges also provided an opportunity to identify areas where digital tools, improved maintenance and stronger management systems could support better performance.
Asset management emerged as an important area of discussion, particularly in ensuring that infrastructure is properly maintained and that utilities can identify and address problems before they cause major service interruptions. Digitalisation can also support more accurate monitoring, customer management and operational decision-making.
The workshop further highlighted the importance of water safety and climate resilience as utilities respond to changing weather conditions, growing demand and pressure on water resources.
Peer learning provides water providers with an opportunity to adapt proven practices to their own operating environments while strengthening professional relationships across the sector.
The organisers acknowledged the participating utilities, technical experts and partners for contributing to the discussions and supporting efforts to improve water services.
Continued collaboration and knowledge exchange will be important in translating lessons from the workshop into practical improvements in utility efficiency, financial sustainability and reliable water service delivery across Kenya.
