KEWI steps up practical training to strengthen Kenya’s water sector

Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) is expanding its focus on practical training, research and technological innovation to address the growing demand for skilled professionals as the country invests in water supply, sanitation and irrigation infrastructure.

The institute is seeking to bridge the skills gap in the water sector by equipping technicians with practical knowledge needed to operate, maintain and improve water infrastructure, including treatment plants, distribution networks, pumping stations and wastewater facilities.

KEWI Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Solomon Leiro Letangule says the sustainability of investments in water infrastructure depends largely on the availability of adequately trained personnel to manage the facilities.

He notes that the expansion of dams, water distribution systems and wastewater treatment facilities, supported by government, development partners and private investors, has increased demand for technical expertise across the industry.

According to the institute, its successive graduation cohorts have produced at least 1,000 graduates, with the last three cohorts averaging approximately 1,300 graduates each. Many of the trained professionals have secured opportunities with water service providers and private companies.

The institute is also changing its training approach to give students more practical exposure. Under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) model, approximately 60 per cent of its programmes involve practical learning, while the remaining 40 per cent focuses on theoretical instruction.

The approach is intended to prepare graduates for workplace demands by allowing them to develop technical competencies before entering the job market.

KEWI is also incorporating emerging technologies into its programmes as water utilities increasingly adopt modern systems to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.

Among the technologies highlighted by Dr Letangule are advanced leak-detection equipment capable of identifying underground pipe leaks without excavation, smart water meters that improve measurement accuracy and modern laboratory equipment that can reduce the time required for certain water-quality tests from several days to just minutes.

The institute also houses the National Non-Revenue Water Management Centre of Excellence, positioning it to contribute to efforts aimed at reducing water losses, improving metering systems and strengthening the operational performance of water utilities.

Research and industry partnerships are another component of KEWI’s strategy. The institute has worked with pump manufacturer Wilo East Africa, where students developed a solution incorporated into pumps to improve energy efficiency.

It has also explored wastewater management technologies that rely on relatively simple materials instead of expensive machinery, demonstrating how locally developed innovations can address challenges facing the sector.

KEWI’s mandate extends beyond training to include research, consultancy, examinations and stakeholder collaboration. Its programmes cover water engineering, wastewater and sanitation, irrigation and drainage, water resources management, laboratory technology and plumbing.

The institute is also preparing to host the fifth National Water and Sanitation Skills Competition from November 23 to 27, 2026, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Water and Sanitation Providers Association and the Women in Water and Sanitation Association.

The competition will bring together training institutions, water service providers and industry practitioners to demonstrate technical abilities, encourage innovation and strengthen collaboration between learning institutions and employers.

The event will run ahead of KEWI’s 38th graduation ceremony scheduled for November 27.

Through practical training, research and industry partnerships, the institute is seeking to ensure that Kenya’s expanding water infrastructure is supported by a workforce capable of delivering reliable services and sustaining investments in the sector.