The Lamu Water Desalination Plant is a major initiative under Kenya’s water & sanitation sector, designed to address the chronic water shortage in the Lamu County coastal region. Key motivations include:
Severe shortage of potable water for domestic, commercial, and industrial users.
Growing water demand due to population growth, tourism, and infrastructure, especially linked to the LAPSSET (Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport) corridor. PPP Kenya+2Traso Limited+2
Coastal environmental stresses (saltwater intrusion, limited fresh groundwater) and changing rainfall patterns intensify the need for reliable, alternative water supply sources. Traso Limited+2Desalination+2
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Lamu County, Kenya (serving Lamu Town, LAPSSET zone, and environs) PPP Kenya+1 |
| Contracting Authority | Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation, Kenya PPP Kenya |
| Private Partner | Rasli Bahari Kenya Ltd PPP Kenya+2Traso Limited+2 |
| Project Type | Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, 30‐year contract term PPP Kenya+1 |
| Capacity / Output | 120,000 m³/day of potable water in initial design/construction phase. PPP Kenya+1 |
| Project Value | ~ KES 106.12 billion (approx USD figure depends on exchange rate) PPP Kenya+1 |
| Status | Project development / feasibility study phase. Development phase ends around August 2024. PPP Kenya |
| Contract Term | 30 years for operation under BOT model. PPP Kenya |
| Additional Components | Mineral recovery / product sales from the desalination process (i.e. extraction / sale of salts or minerals), which adds a revenue stream. PPP Kenya+1 |
While the main large-scale desalination plant is being developed, there are several smaller and interim projects in Lamu for water supply:
A solar-powered desalination plant established in Siyu Village (Lamu East) to serve >10,000 residents, under agreement with ENI (Agip) and county government. Nation Africa+2Business Daily Africa+2
Faza & Siyu water supply/desalination projects: elevated water tanks, sump tanks, pipelines, household connections for small villages. Lamu Water+1
“Desalination plant Mkokoni” and other small reverse osmosis (RO) plants with modest flow rates under Lamu County’s ongoing water project listings. Lamu Water
The project is structured as a PPP, with private partner Rasli Bahari Kenya Ltd conducting the build-operate-transfer over 30 years. PPP Kenya
Equity-to-debt ratio or financing structure has not been fully disclosed in all sources, but project valuation is high (KES 106+ billion) reflecting both scale and complexity. PPP Kenya+1
Contractual phases include feasibility studies, environmental & social impact assessments, permitting, procurement/tendering, construction, commissioning, and long-term operation. PPP Kenya
Environmental impacts: Seawater intake/discharge, energy usage, marine ecology, potentially mineral recovery byproducts. Proper ESIAs are necessary.
Energy source / cost: Desalination is energy intensive. How power is supplied (grid, solar, etc.), and cost of electricity will affect operating costs.
Water quality / reliability: Ensuring potable water standards, maintenance of plant equipment, robustness under coastal conditions (corrosion, salt, humidity).
Funding & finance risk: Large capital outlay, credit risk, foreign exchange risk (if equipment/materials are imported).
Local infrastructure & distribution: Having reliable pipelines, storage, distribution to end consumers; ensuring affordability of water (tariffs) for local population.
Supports Vision 2030 and Kenya’s goals for clean water access and infrastructure development.
Complements the LAPSSET corridor infrastructure, ensuring that port, transport, and tourism growth in Lamu are matched with adequate water supply.
Mineral recovery component offers diversified revenue, possibly improving project cash flows.
Job creation, skills transfer, economic uplift in Lamu County.
