NAIVASHA, Kenya — Over 500,000 residents of Naivasha are set to benefit from a newly announced water project designed to supply fluoride-free drinking water, addressing the long-standing issue of water quality in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative is a collaboration between the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP) and the County Government, involving an ambitious plan to install 7.8 kilometers of water piping from Naivasha Law Courts to the Karagita low-income settlements in the coming weeks.
The project, valued at billions of Kenyan shillings, aims to mitigate the health risks associated with high fluoride levels in local water sources, particularly in the Longonot and Maai Mahiu areas. High concentrations of fluoride have been linked to dental fluorosis and skeletal deformities among the population. The initiative is part of the Second Phase of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Programme II (KISIP), with significant funding from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development and the World Bank, amounting to Sh1 billion allocated for the upgrade of informal settlements in Nakuru County.
Governor Kihika highlighted the critical need for alternative fluoride-free water sources in the county, noting that many of the county’s boreholes contain fluoride levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 1.5 milligrams per liter. The project aims to utilize water from the Malewa River, alongside efforts to identify additional fluoride-free areas for borehole establishment to meet the growing water demand.
The initiative is a part of a larger effort funded by the World Bank ($150 million or Sh24.1 billion) and the French Development Agency (43 million Euros or Sh7.6 billion), targeting infrastructure, water, lighting, and social inclusion in 33 counties. A recent study commissioned by the County Government revealed that most private boreholes in Naivasha contain fluoride levels significantly above the recommended threshold, with concentrations ranging from 2.15mg/Litre to as high as 6.5 mg/Litre.
To address this issue, the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (Nawassco) and the Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company Limited (Naivawasco) are implementing measures to supply “blended water” that meets WHO standards. These measures include developing water distribution networks and installing water kiosks with defluoridation filters using local bone char technology. This technology has successfully reduced fluoride levels to below 1.5 mg/litre, significantly improving water quality and reducing health risks.
The County Government is also focusing on local youth employment opportunities through trench digging for water pipe installation. Governor Kihika’s administration emphasizes the importance of safe water access and public education on fluorosis, in line with WHO guidelines, to prevent the adverse health effects associated with excessive fluoride ingestion.