The National Bank of Kenya (NBK) has disbursed a total of KSh1.2 billion through its flagship program Maji Konnect to improve access to clean and safe water among communities in the country progressing toward its five-year goal of KSh5 billion.
Maji Konnect is an NBK Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) loan facility developed in partnership with Aqua for All in September 2021 to address the challenges of inadequate and inequitable access to water and sanitation services, operational efficiency, and underinvestment by Water Service Providers (WSPs) in sustainable water services. This program aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and has been instrumental in improving lives and livelihoods since its inception.
To date, Maji Konnect has positively impacted 326,294 Kenyans, achieving 54.4% of its initial target, providing them with access to safe and affordable drinking water, and enhancing sanitation and hygiene for 77,959 people. In addition, NBK has created or sustained 733 direct jobs in the water and sanitation sector and financed 89 WASH enterprises. These numbers have been independently evaluated and verified by MCRIL LTD, a consulting firm based in India.
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Furthermore, the Bank has prioritized training, with 84% of its staff and management now equipped with knowledge of water and sanitation financing opportunities, and 260 Water Service Provider’s (WSP’s) board and management staff trained to improve sector leadership and operational capacity.
Commenting on this significant milestone, NBK Managing Director, George Odhiambo emphasized that the bank is committed to ensuring equitable access to water by providing flexible loan terms to Water Service Providers which are entities of County Governments.
“We are proud of our achievement since we rolled out this program, and we are excited about the new chapter that will see us reach out to more people in the coming years. My appreciation goes to our partners, Aqua for All, the African Guarantee Fund, and most importantly, the Dutch Embassy, for ensuring this program becomes a success,” NBK MD, George Odhiambo noted.
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Speaking during the event, Viola Kilel, Policy Officer of Economic Affairs & Water Sector, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands noted that addressing water challenges requires innovative solutions, especially in Kenya within the urban and rural areas. In
line with the Netherlands Multi-annual country strategy for Kenya, enabling water access, usage, and infrastructure is a critical enabler for sustainable economic development and inclusivity. “The Netherlands is committed to supporting public-private partnerships and enabling commercial finance for the water sector in line with
meeting the Government of Kenya NAWASIP ambitions.” She said.
”We congratulate NBK and its partners on this significant achievement and reaffirm our commitment to deepening our partnership in Kenya to deliver a positive, long-term impact. Reaching this milestone is proof of what can be achieved when public and private institutions join forces to tackle critical challenges in water and sanitation. By developing financial solutions tailored to empower Water Service Providers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, Maji Konnect has catalyzed investment, supported sustainable access to services, and improved the lives of countless communities. We are proud to have been part of the driving forces, fostering an environment where water and sanitation services are accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all.” Aarno Keijzer, Lead Impact Finance, Aqua for All.
