The global recognition of Lamu County’s Kiunga Solar Desalination and Water-for-Peace Initiative is highlighting a development lesson that extends far beyond water: peace and stability can become powerful foundations for investment and economic transformation.
The Kiunga project recently won Gold at the 2026 International Water Association (IWA) Project Innovation Awards in Glasgow, emerging as the Gold winner in the Governance, Institutions and Social Enterprise category from 320 submissions across 65 countries.
Lamu was also the only African organisation among this year’s IWA Project Innovation Award winners.
But for Lamu County, the significance of the Kiunga project goes beyond the trophy.
It demonstrates how investment in essential services can strengthen social cohesion and cross-border stability — creating the kind of environment in which businesses, investors and communities can plan for the future with greater confidence.
FROM PEACE TO INVESTMENT CONFIDENCE
Lamu has in recent years been working to strengthen peace, community resilience and security, particularly in areas affected by historical insecurity.
The results are increasingly visible in the County’s investment landscape.
Governor Issa Abdalla Timamy has linked the prevailing peace and improved security environment to growing investor confidence in Lamu.
The Governor has specifically pointed to the major Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery investment as evidence of the confidence being placed in Lamu’s future, while emphasising that peace and security are essential to sustaining such investments.
The proposed refinery, valued at approximately KSh2.2 trillion (about US$16 billion), is expected to anchor a wider industrial ecosystem around Lamu Port and the LAPSSET Corridor. Kenyan authorities describe the project as a major investment that will create jobs, stimulate associated industries and strengthen regional economic activity.
Governor Timamy has also said that the refinery could attract additional investors into Lamu, generating demand for housing, food, transport, services and other businesses.
This is where the story of Kiunga becomes particularly relevant.
THE KIUNGA LESSON: INVESTING IN STABILITY
The Kiunga Solar Desalination and Water-for-Peace Initiative was developed to address water scarcity in a remote border community.
The solar-powered system converts saline groundwater into safe water, producing approximately 5,000 litres per hour and distributing it through a 15.1-kilometre network serving 573 households and approximately 3,500 people.
It also supports schools and health facilities.
But its most distinctive feature is its cross-border impact.
Communities from neighbouring Jubaland, Somalia, cross into Kiunga to access clean water.
Instead of allowing scarcity to become a source of competition, the project has created an opportunity for interaction and cooperation.
That is the essence of Water for Peace.
And the same principle applies to investment.
STABILITY CREATES CONFIDENCE
An investor needs more than land, infrastructure and markets.
Investors also need confidence that people can live, work and conduct business in a stable environment.
The Kenyan Ministry of Defence has explicitly described the relationship between security and investment, noting that a stable security environment enables investment, economic activity and critical infrastructure to take root.
The Kiunga model demonstrates this principle from the community level.
When communities have reliable water, when essential services are accessible, when relations across borders are constructive and when residents participate in peacebuilding, the foundations for wider economic activity become stronger.
DANGOTE AND THE NEW LAMU INVESTMENT STORY
The recent groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery has provided perhaps the clearest illustration of Lamu’s changing investment landscape.
The project is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and create significant employment and business opportunities, while supporting manufacturing, logistics, engineering and other sectors.
Dangote Group has described the investment as a demonstration of confidence in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Governor Timamy has similarly described the refinery as an anchor investment capable of attracting other investors into Lamu.
The emerging investment ecosystem therefore creates an important connection:
Peace creates stability.
Stability creates confidence.
Confidence attracts investment.
Investment creates jobs and opportunity.
And opportunity strengthens the incentives for communities to protect peace.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF THE INVESTMENT EQUATION
As major investments arrive, Lamu will also need to ensure that the supporting infrastructure keeps pace.
Water supply, housing, roads, health services, education, sanitation, waste management and other public services will become increasingly important as workers, businesses and new residents come into the County.
This is where the Kiunga experience becomes a valuable demonstration project.
The initiative shows that Lamu can develop locally appropriate, climate-resilient infrastructure using renewable energy and innovative technology.
The same thinking can be applied as the County prepares for a new phase of economic growth.
SHEE: “PEACE IS NOT ONLY A SECURITY ISSUE”
According to Shee Kupi Shee, Director of Disaster Risk Management and Peace Building in Lamu County and architect of the Kiunga Water-for-Peace model, Lamu’s experience shows why peacebuilding must be understood as an economic development strategy as well.
“Peace is not only about the absence of violence. Peace is about creating conditions where people can live, work, trade, invest and build their futures with confidence.”
“When we invest in water and other essential services, we strengthen the social foundations of peace. When peace and stability improve, investors gain confidence. That is the connection we are seeing in Lamu.”
Shee said the Kiunga project provides a practical example of how development and peacebuilding can reinforce each other.
“Water can build trust between communities. Trust strengthens stability. And stability creates an environment in which investment can thrive.”
LAMU’S NEXT CHAPTER
The combination of Lamu Port, the LAPSSET Corridor, the Dangote investment, improving security and growing international recognition of the County’s peacebuilding and development initiatives is creating a new narrative for Lamu.
The County is increasingly being positioned not only as a tourism and cultural destination, but also as an emerging centre for trade, logistics, energy, manufacturing, blue economy, agriculture and regional connectivity.
The challenge now is to ensure that economic growth remains inclusive and that local communities are central beneficiaries of the emerging opportunities.
