Haskoning and Rebel secure approval for Naivasha water project in Kenya
Professional services firms Haskoning and Rebel have received formal approval from the Kenyan Private Public Partnership Directorate to proceed with the development of the Naivasha Special Economic Zones Bulk Water Supply Project.
The approval of the Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) from the engineering firm (Haskoning) and consulting firm (Rebel) will see the two Dutch companies work with Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID), WaterConnect and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) to further develop, finance, construct, and operate an integrated water supply and wastewater treatment project in Naivasha, Kenya.
The initiative comes at an important time for the region, with acute water challenges common. Currently, there are residents of Naivasha that are supplied with water through kiosks, so a transition to household connections will have a significant impact on well-being and quality of life.
With the population expected to grow to 575,000 by 2030, there will also be a considerable increase in demand on the town’s existing water infrastructure. This challenge, alongside the government’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda which prioritises the Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ), underscores the importance of water supply and wastewater treatment systems as critical enablers of both social and economic development.
The project aims to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to households in Naivasha and to the nearby SEZ through the construction of new assets worth €90 million and the provision of operational services.
On top of socioeconomic benefits, adequate water resources management is also fundamental to maintaining the environment around Lake Naivasha, which is part of the Ramsar Convention (for the protection of wetlands), home to a wide variety of bird species and a significant hippopotamus population. The area also hosts horticulture and floriculture activities.
The project
As lead partners, Haskoning and Rebel worked together to develop the pre-feasibility study for a Public-Private Partnership water project – in line with the Kenyan government’s ambitions for the sector. The pair also structured and mobilised the funding for its development.
The Naivasha project is currently in the development phase. This key period will include a comprehensive assessment of the impact on communities, water resources and biodiversity, resulting in a plan which will enhance positive impact and mitigate potential adverse effects.
Michel Riemersma from Haskoning said “This complex project has the potential to positively impact the lives of residents, strengthen the economy and protect the natural environment and biodiversity. By supporting this project, we can not only help secure water supply for households but also support the ambitious growth plans of the SEZ.”
Rob Winters from Rebel added: “Bridging the gap between the drinking water infrastructure needs and existing financial resources was at the heart of our proposal. Due to our previous experience and solid understanding of the Kenyan regulatory landscape, we were able to work with the Kenyan and Dutch authorities, partners and financiers to design an innovative project development and funding model.”
“We are excited about making the transition from financial and transaction advisors to developers and investors in public-private partnerships in Africa, after successfully doing so in other parts of the world.”
