Lamu County has earned global recognition after its solar-powered desalination project in Kiunga won the Best Community Impact Project Award at the Water Transversality Global Awards 2026 in New Delhi, India.
The awards are organised by the India Water Foundation, a global think tank on water governance and climate resilience with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations ECOSOC, working with partners including UN-ESCAP, UNOPS and the Government of India.
Lamu was honoured for the Kiunga Desalination Plant, an innovative initiative that treats saline groundwater drawn from wells and converts it into safe drinking water for communities in the coastal border area.
For years, Kiunga has struggled with drought and saltwater intrusion, leaving residents with limited access to clean water.
The solar-powered facility now provides safe drinking water to households, schools and public institutions, while reducing dependence on fuel-powered water systems and strengthening climate resilience.
The county was represented at the ceremony by Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission in India, Ambassador Mary Mutuku, who received the award on behalf of the county government and the people of Lamu. County officials say the project has not only addressed water scarcity but also become a platform for peacebuilding in the sensitive border region.
Through community dialogues, host communities, refugee populations, local leaders and security agencies agreed on equitable water access and rationing arrangements.
“In Kiunga, access to clean water has become more than a basic service — it has become a bridge for peace, bringing together host communities, refugees and security agencies around a shared resource,” officials said.
The peacebuilding component of the initiative was implemented by Shee Kupi Shee, Director of Disaster Management and Peace Building under the Department of Public Service Management, under the supervision of Chief Officer Khadija Fumo and with support from the Governor’s Office Chief of Staff Abdulnasir Mohamed. Beyond improving water access, the project has also delivered social benefits.
Women and girls who previously travelled long distances in search of water now have safer and closer access, while improved water availability has helped support better learning conditions and school attendance.
County officials say the recognition highlights how locally driven solutions under Kenya’s devolved system of governance can contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, water security, and community resilience.
The Lamu County Government also thanked the Kenya Embassy in India for representing the county at the international ceremony and reaffirmed its commitment to expanding sustainable water solutions to improve livelihoods and strengthen resilience across the county.
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