Global consumer health giant Haleon has partnered with the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund to strengthen Nairobi water security through a three-year, nature-based conservation programme. The deal targets 76,000 cubic metres of replenished water annually, directly addressing the supply gap straining Kenya’s capital.
- A Global Push Toward Water-Source Investment
- Inside the Haleon–Upper Tana Water Fund Partnership
- Why Sedimentation Matters for Water Infrastructure
- The Water Fund Model: A Decade of Track Record
- Applications for Africa’s Water and Pump Sector
- What Comes Next
- FAQ: Nairobi Water Security and the Upper Tana Water Fund
A Global Push Toward Water-Source Investment
Corporations worldwide are shifting water strategy upstream. Nature-based solutions for water security have grown fivefold across Africa over the past decade, according to The Nature Conservancy and Forest Trends. User-funded conservation, paid for directly by utilities, cities, and companies, has nearly tripled globally since 2013 as businesses recognise that protecting a watershed costs far less than fixing a broken one downstream.
Kenya leads this shift, with Nairobi’s Upper Tana Water Fund a pioneering African model.
Nairobi’s water crisis is well documented. Demand now exceeds 900 million litres daily, yet supply sits at only 525 million litres. Damaged infrastructure, persistent leaks, and pressure on the Thika, Sasumua, and Ruiru dams compound the shortfall. Against this backdrop, the Haleon partnership offers a rare example of private capital flowing directly to the source of the problem.
Inside the Haleon–Upper Tana Water Fund Partnership
Haleon, a leading consumer health company, and the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund Trust announced the three-year collaboration in June 2026. The programme is designed to deliver measurable replenishment while supporting Haleon’s water neutrality target for its Nairobi operations.
“Water is fundamental to health, communities and sustainable growth,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon’s Sub-Saharan Africa general manager. He added that the partnership backs practical, nature-based solutions protecting vital water resources across the watershed.
Project Specifications
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual water replenishment target | 76,000m³ by year three |
| Measurement method | Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) and Curve Number hydrological method |
| Smallholder farmers engaged | 7,660 |
| Farmland restored | 131 hectares |
| Riparian corridors restored | 1.5 kilometres |
| Programme duration | 3 years |
| Key interventions | Agroforestry, soil conservation terraces, grass strips, riparian buffer restoration, farmer training |
The Upper Tana watershed supplies roughly 95 per cent of Nairobi’s water and about half of Kenya’s hydropower output. However, decades of deforestation and unsustainable farming on steep slopes have driven soil erosion and sedimentation into rivers and reservoirs.
Why Sedimentation Matters for Water Infrastructure
Sediment washed into the Tana River does more than cloud the water. It clogs treatment works, damages pump components, and shortens equipment lifespan across the supply chain. For utilities and industrial operators, higher sediment loads translate into higher treatment costs and more frequent maintenance.
Patrick Nyaga, chief executive officer of the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund Trust, said the partnership advances shared water stewardship. He noted the project invests in solutions backed by robust measurement, delivering lasting value for communities and businesses alike.
Reducing sediment at the source therefore protects downstream infrastructure investment. Pump stations, treatment plants, and distribution networks all benefit when upstream conservation limits the debris entering the system. This is a critical, if underappreciated, link between farm-level land management and urban water infrastructure reliability.
The Water Fund Model: A Decade of Track Record
Kenya established Africa’s first Water Fund in 2015, inspiring 17 similar funds across 11 African countries. The Upper Tana model became an independently registered Kenyan trust in September 2021.
Since inception, results have accumulated steadily:
- More than four million Nairobi residents now enjoy improved water quality.
- Some 196,000 acres of land have been placed under sustainable management.
- Roughly 318 kilometres of riparian land have been protected.
- More than 51,000 farmers apply soil conservation and water-saving methods.
- Smallholder agricultural yields have risen by over US$3 million annually.
- About 8,500 coffee farmers have earned Rainforest Alliance certification.
Over the next five years, the fund plans to onboard 20,000 additional farming households, install 5,000 more water pans, and plant three million more trees toward a target of seven million by year-end.
Applications for Africa’s Water and Pump Sector
For water infrastructure stakeholders, this partnership signals where investment priorities are heading. Utilities across East Africa face similar sedimentation and supply-demand pressures. The Haleon model demonstrates how private-sector water neutrality commitments can fund upstream fixes that ease strain on pumping and treatment assets downstream.
Equipment suppliers, treatment plant operators, and engineering firms serving Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company should watch this space closely. Reduced sediment loads can lower operating costs for raw water pumps and clarification systems, freeing budget for network expansion and leak repair elsewhere in the system.
What Comes Next
The programme’s success will be tracked using volumetric water benefit accounting, giving Haleon and the trust a transparent, replicable measurement standard. If the model performs as designed, it could attract further corporate partners seeking credible water stewardship pathways in East Africa.
With Nairobi generating 60 per cent of Kenya’s GDP, securing its water source carries economic weight far beyond the city itself. The Tana River also serves roughly five million additional people living within the watershed and underpins one of the country’s most important agricultural zones.
FAQ: Nairobi Water Security and the Upper Tana Water Fund
What is the Upper Tana–Nairobi Water Fund? It is a conservation financing mechanism, launched in 2015, that channels contributions from downstream water users into upstream soil and water conservation across the Tana River watershed.
How much water will the Haleon partnership replenish? The programme targets approximately 76,000 cubic metres of water replenishment annually by its third year, measured using Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting.
Why does the Upper Tana watershed matter for Nairobi water security? It supplies about 95 per cent of Nairobi’s water and roughly half of Kenya’s hydropower, making its condition central to the capital’s water and energy supply.
How many farmers will benefit from the new partnership? The initiative will work directly with 7,660 smallholder farmers, alongside restoration of 131 hectares of farmland and 1.5 kilometres of riparian corridor.
