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How NCBA, a bank, is accelerating access to water and sanitation in Kenya

The Director of Commercial and SME Banking at NCBA Bank, Robert Kiboti.

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

By Robert Kiboti

Safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are at the heart of health and well-being. However, poor access to these essential services is widespread, particularly in much of the developing world. In part, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established to address the urgent need for improved WASH services globally.

At the heart of its effort to bridge the WASH access gap is the NCBA WASH Loan Product, a credit solution curated to cater for the unique requirements of WASH businesses through focused funding opportunities. NCBA feels confident that applying this product will unlock potential in Kenya's water sector and support the country’s vision for 100 percent water and sanitation coverage by 2030.

The impact of inadequate WASH extends far beyond health. It hinders economic development, deepens gender inequality, and undermines environmental sustainability. Access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and good hygiene is essential for disease prevention, stimulating human development, and strengthening health systems.

WASH investment is therefore a catalyst for broader social and economic development. But as a capital-intensive investment, financial institutions are called upon to extend some form of support to the industry players. Recognising the need, NCBA designed a product focused on providing clean water and improved sanitation by entering a strategic partnership with Water.org.

Water.org's credit guarantee facility and capacity-building support this product, strengthening NCBA's commitment to community well-being and environmental sustainability.

The loan aims to support private water service providers (WSPs) and registered SMEs in the water and sanitation industry. The product enables such organisations to access finance for major infrastructure developments, including network extension, rehabilitation, and modernisation programmes, to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

The product addresses sectoral problems such as financing water network expansion and maintenance, financing domestic water connections, and reducing non-revenue water losses. It also facilitates the deployment of energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy projects, including solar-powered smart metering systems, borehole funding, and drilling equipment.

By making such investments accessible, the product promotes financial independence for WSPs and allows them to supply more reliable, sustainable services to communities.

Lastly, the loan product facilitates the financial autonomy of WASH service providers and enhances their operational capacity. When combined with technical assistance, this enables WSPs to develop more household connections, improve revenue streams, and increase their influence sustainably.

By bridging the gap in attaining financial support, NCBA has positioned itself to help unlock the full potential of the WASH sector in Kenya, ensuring that communities thrive regardless of their location.

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Robert Kiboti is the Director of Commercial and SME Banking at NCBA Bank