Chinese infrastructure firm Sichuan Roads and Bridges Group is set to undertake the construction of the Mzima II water pipeline, a major project expected to improve water supply across Kenya’s Coast region.
The 220-kilometre pipeline will run from Mzima Springs in Taita Taveta County to Mazeras in Kilifi County, supplying water to Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta.
The project will be implemented under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with the Coast Water Works Development Authority (CWWDA).
Under the arrangement, the Chinese company will finance, design and construct the pipeline before operating and maintaining it for 27 years. Construction is expected to take three years, after which the infrastructure will eventually revert to public ownership.
According to the National Treasury’s Public Private Partnerships Directorate, the project will involve laying a 1,200mm-diameter pipeline capable of delivering 105 million litres of water daily.
The works will also include water intake facilities, pumping stations and storage infrastructure.
Mzima II will complement the existing Mzima I pipeline, which has supplied water to coastal communities since the 1950s.
The ageing system has struggled to meet growing demand, contributing to persistent water shortages in parts of the region.
The new pipeline is expected to significantly increase bulk water supplies and ease pressure on the existing network.
The National Treasury approved the project proposal in August 2024, clearing the way for feasibility studies and further project development. (File image by Coast Water Works Development Agency)
