Additional 140,000 m3/day water supply for Nairobi, reduced water rationing, improved sanitation
Nairobi Water and Sewerage Improvement (Northern Collector Tunnel)
Major water tunnel project to boost Nairobi's water supply from the Aberdare Range by 140,000 cubic meters per day.
AnnouncedJanuary 1, 2014
StartedJanuary 1, 2016
Expected CompletionDecember 31, 2026
Financials
Offering PriceKsh 25,000,000,000KES
Timeline
Construction Begins
Tunnel boring and construction works commenced
Delays Due to Geological Challenges
Project experienced significant delays due to difficult geological conditions encountered during tunneling
Contractors
China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC)
Main ContractorChinese contractor building the Northern Collector Tunnel
Politicians Involved
Uhuru Kenyatta
President of KenyaInitiated the Northern Collector Tunnel project
Benefits
Description
The Northern Collector Tunnel is a critical water infrastructure project designed to increase Nairobi's water supply by capturing water from rivers in the northern Aberdare Range. The 11.9km tunnel will transfer an additional 140,000 cubic meters of water per day to the Thika Dam system, addressing Nairobi's chronic water shortages. Funded by the World Bank and Chinese Exim Bank, the project includes the tunnel, treatment works, and distribution pipeline upgrades.
Overview
Addresses Nairobi's severe water deficit, with the city receiving only about 520,000 m3/day against a demand of over 780,000 m3/day.