Water institute to build Sh240m resource centre
What you need to know:
- KEWI expects the partnership to make it self-reliant, rather than depending on Exchequer funding every year.
- According to acting director Leunita Sumba, the institute receives Sh135 million annually from the government to fund its operations.
Kenya Water Institute has entered into a partnership with water technologies adviser Bola Associates to build a Sh240 million regional resource centre.
The centre, to be based at KEWI headquarters in Nairobi, will offer information, training and research, and hosting conferences.
KEWI expects the partnership to make it self-reliant, rather than depending on Exchequer funding every year.
FUND ITS OPERATIONS
According to the acting director, Mrs Leunita Sumba, the institute receives Sh135 million annually from the government to fund its operations.
“We internally generate Sh100 million annually. Once the resource centre is ready, we expect to generate more from conferences, exhibitions, short term courses and information services,” she said in a statement.
The institute also expects to benefit from Bola Associates’ expertise in water and sanitation technologies and its long years of affiliation with water supply and sanitation firms in Germany.
The centre will also host Unesco’s regional groundwater centre for education, training and research.
“This centre will enable us to provide high quality water testing and analysis results. Lack of such services is holding back many projects, especially borehole drilling,” Bola Associates managing director Malei Nthiwa said.
