BY: Pius Kimani

The Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) on Thursday hosted a high-level leadership delegation from Wilo Group, led by Eng. Belete A. Matebe, Managing Director, Wilo East Africa. The visit marked another milestone in the long-standing collaboration between KEWI and Wilo, a global leader in energy-efficient pump and water solutions.

The delegation included Chief Sales Officer Mr. Lyman Tu, Chief Technology Officer for the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) Region Mr. Hemant Watve, Sales Director for the Middle and Southern Africa Region Mr. Matthew Ndivheni Magwede, and Wilo East Africa Marketing Manager Ms. Christine Amira. They were received at KEWI Headquarters, Nairobi, by the Institute’s Director, Dr. Leiro Letangule, EBS.

Dr. Letangule acknowledged Wilo as a trusted partner in advancing sustainable water solutions. He highlighted the Wilo Energy Efficiency Laboratory at KEWI as a vital platform in equipping sector players with the knowledge and tools required to respond to pressing challenges such as climate change and energy scarcity. “Wilo’s advanced technologies are empowering institutions like ours to prepare the sector for a sustainable future by ensuring water efficiency goes hand in hand with energy efficiency,” he remarked.

Following discussions at KEWI, the delegation proceeded to the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, where they were received by Water Secretary Eng. S. A. O. Alima and Secretary for Land Reclamation, Climate Resilient and Irrigation Water Management, Eng. Joel Tanui. The meetings explored potential areas of collaboration, including pump procurement and other strategic partnerships to accelerate ongoing water sector projects.

At the sidelines of their visit to KEWI, the delegation inspected the newly installed Water Pressure Regulator/System, an advanced piping network integrated with intelligent valves and smart metering technology. The system, produced by Apex Piping Systems Limited on Wilo’s behalf, demonstrates how consistent water pressure can be achieved across pipes of varying sizes.

The simulation technology will serve as a practical training tool at the Wilo Energy Efficiency Laboratory. It demonstrates how proper pumps and pressure management can maintain water balance, prevent appliance malfunctions, reduce pump cycling, minimize wear and tear, and ensure multiple fixtures can be used simultaneously without pressure drops.

With Wilo’s advanced pressure management technologies, users are guaranteed efficient water distribution. By preventing over-pressurization and under-pressurization, the system ensures balanced water supply across domestic, commercial, and industrial applications. This precision is essential in improving system efficiency, conserving energy, and prolonging the lifespan of infrastructure.

The visit reaffirmed Wilo’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s water sector transformation while underscoring KEWI’s role as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and capacity building. Together, KEWI and Wilo continue to set the pace in demonstrating how technology and partnerships can be harnessed to deliver smarter, more sustainable water management solutions.