Biotank Africa Launches County Training Drive To Address Kenya’s Sanitation Skills Gap

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Only about 9 per cent of Kenya’s population is connected to a municipal sewer network, according to the Water Services Regulatory Board. That leaves much of the country relying on artisans who install and maintain onsite sanitation systems.

More than 400 of those workers received National Construction Authority certification in Kitengela during the launch of BioTank Africa’s county-by-county training program.

The initiative is meant to equip thousands of fundis, plumbers and contractors with practical skills in modern biodigester and wastewater technology. It expands BioTank Africa’s Fundi Forum from local sessions into a mobile training program that will move across counties in Kenya.

BioTank Africa said Kitengela was chosen for the first county-level forum because real estate development in the Kajiado County town has grown quickly without matching expansion in municipal sewer coverage. As a result, developers and property owners rely heavily on decentralized wastewater systems.

The company said this mirrors a broader sanitation challenge in Kenya’s growing urban centers. Data from the Water Services Regulatory Board cited by BioTank Africa shows that about five million people, or roughly 9 per cent of the population, are connected to municipal sewer networks. For much of the country, onsite sanitation systems remain the main option.

BioTank Africa founder and general manager Edwin Kirugo said the quality of those systems depends heavily on the people who install and maintain them.

“Our fundis are our primary brand ambassadors on the ground, making sure every installation protects public health and meets strict quality standards. With over 90 percent of the country depending on onsite sanitation, the artisans we accredit today are directly building safer, cleaner communities for tomorrow. Taking this Forum county by county ensures we take world-class technical training directly to where fast-paced construction is actually happening,” Kirugo said.

The day-long event was held under the theme “Fundi Bora Kazi Bora”, tying artisans’ competence and professional development to the quality of work delivered to customers.

It was the fourth edition of the Fundi Forum and, according to BioTank Africa, the largest since the initiative began in 2023. The company said the expanded programme was in response to demand for technical training in counties seeing more residential, commercial and institutional construction.

Participants completed practical modules on installing and maintaining three-chamber biodigesters. The sessions also covered site safety and the standards artisans are expected to follow when handling wastewater systems.

Live installation demonstrations gave participants a chance to work with the systems under the guidance of technical specialists. Artisans also consulted experts one-on-one about installation requirements and challenges they face on construction sites.

The forum also included business clinics meant to help fundis formalize their businesses, register their trades and improve how they attract and keep customers. Financial management was part of the discussion, since many artisans work for daily wages or move between short-term contracts.

The participating fundis, plumbers and contractors received technical accreditation certificates issued by the NCA. BioTank Africa said the certification is part of its ongoing partnership with the construction regulator to formalize skills and uphold installation, safety and environmental standards.

The training program is also meant to address a gap between Kenya’s reliance on onsite wastewater infrastructure and the number of artisans with formal qualifications. NCA data cited at the event showed that more than 90 per cent of developments rely on onsite wastewater systems, while only about 30 per cent of local construction artisans have formal technical training.

James Karatu, president of the Real Building Workers Association of Kenya, urged fundis to treat regulatory compliance as part of their professional duty. REBWAK represents construction workers and advocates for compliance and worker welfare.

“Fundis should be agents of compliance, because if you build without proper licences, you are the one who will be arrested,” Karatu said.

He also urged artisans to improve their financial literacy, saying some fundis struggle to manage income earned through daily wages. Better financial planning, he said, would help tradespeople build more stable businesses from their technical work.

The forum put professional accountability alongside practical skills. Participants were encouraged to understand licensing requirements, follow approved installation procedures and keep records that could help establish their credibility with customers and regulators.

Organizers said the changing construction market also requires artisans to build business and communication skills. Customers increasingly research service providers before hiring them, which makes reputation, certification and proof of previous work more important in winning contracts.

Women’s participation in plumbing and other construction trades was another focus of the forum. Female artisans attended the practical sessions and used the event to connect with technical experts, potential clients and other tradespeople.

Among them was 25-year-old Nellygrace Korika, a plumber from Njiru in Nairobi’s Kasarani area. Korika has worked in the trade for two years and attended the forum to learn about new plumbing and wastewater technologies.

Her participation reflects the gradual entry of more women into skilled construction work, although organizers did not provide figures showing their share of the industry or of those attending the Kitengela event.

Korika said technical forums give female plumbers a chance to improve their skills while building networks that can lead to jobs.

“As women, we can also be good plumbers. I came here to learn and network. Plumbing is always changing, and I wanted to know what the latest innovations are, plus these events also give me jobs,” Korika noted.

Returning participants said the annual training has helped them keep up with new products and installation methods. The certification also gives artisans formal proof of the technical instruction they have completed.

Hassan Isadia, a plumber from Eldoret with 10 years of experience, travelled to Kitengela for the forum. He has attended all four editions since the initiative began.

Isadia said coming back each year has helped him update his skills as wastewater technology and customer expectations change. He also said continued training has helped him attract more business.

The Kitengela forum was the first edition held as part of a broader county-by-county rollout. BioTank Africa said the new approach will bring practical instruction closer to artisans working in areas where construction is expanding quickly.

The NCA certificates awarded at the event mattered especially to participants seeking to show prospective customers they had received formal training. BioTank Africa said the accreditation would also support its plan to build a wider network of qualified installers.

“This training has helped me grow my business. I get more customers as I get the latest skills. I am happy I got certification today from NCA,” Isadia said.

The expansion comes in BioTank Africa’s eighth year in the Kenyan market. Kirugo founded the company in 2018 to provide decentralized wastewater management products for residential, commercial and institutional developments.

The company manufactures and distributes ready-made plastic and concrete biodigesters as alternatives to conventional septic systems. Its product range includes BioTank Biodigesters, Grease Trap Pro, Bio Clean Septic Tank Enzymes and Tazo Natural Home Cleaning Products.

The county programme follows the launch of BioTank Africa’s “Kuwa Mbele Jenga Easy” campaign in April. The company has also opened a branch in Nakuru as it expands beyond its existing markets.

BioTank Africa said it plans to set up a nationwide distributor network to make its wastewater products more available in different counties. It did not provide details on the rollout timetable or the number of planned distribution points.

Through the mobile Fundi Forum, the company plans to build an accredited network of artisans able to install and maintain its systems. Future host counties and training dates had not been announced at the time of the Kitengela event.

Kirugo said artisans will need to keep learning as construction technology, customer behavior and professional requirements change.

“When the fundi grows, the standards improve, and the customer wins. Construction and sanitation industries are evolving every day. Today’s customer is more informed, and with AI, customers are the ones now searching for the fundis they want. A fundi of today is one who is always learning, keeps up with changing technology, maintains high standards, and is trustworthy. As a fundi, reputation is your capital,” Kirugo said.