Naivasha: Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company (NAIVAWASCO) has partnered with Sanivation Company to construct a multi-million-shilling fecal sludge treatment plant that will convert the town’s human waste into biomass fuel briquettes for industrial use. The plant aims to process waste from the 84 percent of Naivasha’s population not connected to the existing sewer system. Currently, these residents rely on pit latrines, septic tanks, and exhaust trucks since only 16 percent of the population is served by the sewer network.
According to Kenya News Agency, the ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water and Environment, Dr. Nelson Mara. He described the plant as a significant development for Naivasha, a town where sewer infrastructure has lagged behind population growth. Dr. Mara noted that the existing sewage treatment plant, built in 1974, was intended for a population of 17,000, while the town’s population has now grown significantly. He highlighted the need for an investment exceeding Sh10 billion to expand three waste treatment plants and a reticulation system for Naivasha.
Sanivation Company CEO, Emily Woods, stated that the plant is expected to be operational by July next year. Once fully scaled up, it will produce an estimated 2,000 tonnes of biomass fuel briquettes per month, serving up to 130,000 households. Woods emphasized that the briquettes would be used by industrial boilers, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies, reducing their energy costs by 10 to 30 percent and alleviating pressure on forests currently logged for fuel. She also supported a stakeholder proposal to use water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha in processing the sludge instead of sawdust, which would help manage the weed’s spread in the lake.
NAIVAWASCO Managing Director Engineer, Nahashon Wahome, expressed that the new plant would alleviate the burden on the town’s overstretched sewer system. He noted that the current sewer plant is struggling to manage waste due to the growing population, and the new facility would address this issue effectively.
Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) CEO Leparan Tialal encouraged the use of water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha in the briquette-making process, aligning with efforts to tackle environmental concerns in the area.
