Access to water, adequate sanitation and hygiene (WASH) remain a significant challenge in Kenya. Currently, just over half of the Kenyan population has access to clean water, and only 16 percent has access to adequate sanitation and hygiene. The Government of Kenya has set an ambitious target of universal access to WASH by 2030. This will require greater financial resources to put in place the utilities and equipment needed to make this available for all Kenyans. The total investment needed to reach universal access by 2030 is estimated at $12.9 billion dollars. however, the current available government budget for water and sanitation is $5.6 billion, leaving a $7 billion gap. To bridge this gap, resources from other sectors, such as the private sector, are critical.

WASH-FIN is a five-year, $5 million project that is working to close this financing gap. By partnering with national and county governments, development partners, local financial institutions, and other stakeholders, WASH-FIN supports water service providers (WSPs) and private sanitation service providers to access additional capital for sustainable, climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure equipment. By exploring new roles for market finance, WASH-FIN complements funding from traditional sources such as transfers, taxes and tariffs, and supports Kenya on its journey to self-reliance.