U.S. Ambassador Robert Godec, Kenyan officials, and representatives of international donors and private corporations today launched two projects worth KShs 8.5 billion ($86.5) to make safe water available to 1.5 million Kenyans.

Funded by the American people through USAID, the $51 million Kenya Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene (KIWASH) project will combine nutrition programming with improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene to Kenyans in Busia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kitui, Makueni, Migori, Nairobi, Nyamira, and Siaya counties. 

The Kenya Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development (Kenya RAPID), will increase access to water and sanitation for people and livestock in Northern Kenya’s Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, and Wajir counties.  Kenya RAPID is a $35.5 million joint investment of $12.5 million from USAID, $7.5 million from Swiss Development Corporation, $12.5 million from private-sector partners (including, among others, Aqua for All, the Coca Cola Africa Foundation, and SweetSense Inc.), and $3 million from the Millennium Water Authority (MWA) and its members. The MWA is non-profit coalition of U.S. charities working to bring clean, safe drinking water and sanitation to people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

“These projects will invest more than $85 million from the United States government, international donors and the private sector, reinforcing our commitment to partner with the Kenyan national and county governments to improve the health and wellbeing of their people,” Ambassador Godec said.