Efficient water systems lower operational costs, unlock public funding, and support national development goals. By harnessing technology, this partnership has the potential to transform Kenya’s utilities, boosting efficiency, minimizing water loss, and expanding access to safe water for millions.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies and a pan-African technology group, has partnered with global smart water technology provider DropByDrop Water Systems to tackle Kenya’s water distribution inefficiencies through data-driven solutions. The collaboration was announced on July 16.

“Water scarcity is a growing challenge across the continent,” said Neeraj Pradhan, Acting CEO of Liquid Kenya. “By helping water providers digitise their infrastructure and build smart ecosystems, we’re enabling them to serve communities more effectively.”

The partnership aims to address Kenya’s mounting non-revenue water (NRW) problem. Through the integration of Liquid’s Internet of Things (IoT) network and DropByDrop’s cloud-based water management platform, the collaboration will deliver real-time monitoring, smart metering, leak detection, and automated system controls to reduce water loss and improve revenue collection.

The solution will also support geo-asset management, remote valve control, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) integration, allowing utilities to monitor and manage their systems remotely. DropByDrop’s multilingual, network-agnostic platform ensures widespread accessibility and user-friendly integration across different regions.

Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is a major challenge in Kenya, representing the gap between water supplied and water billed or accounted for. It includes physical losses (leaks, burst pipes) and commercial losses (meter errors, unauthorized use, billing issues), and serves as a key indicator of utility efficiency.

In the 2023/24 Water Services Sector Performance Report, Kenya’s average NRW was 44%—meaning nearly half the water in the system is lost or unaccounted for. This invisible loss drains revenue, limits access, and signals an urgent need for smarter water management.

By digitizing infrastructure with real-time monitoring, leak detection, and accurate metering, the partnership helps utilities recover lost water, boost revenue, and extend services to underserved communities.

This partnership highlights the power of technology in solving everyday challenges. For Liquid, it reinforces its broader mission of enabling digital transformation in Africa by offering end-to-end technology solutions that improve service delivery and promote sustainable development.

Hikmatu Bilali