Co-operative Bank of Kenya has won the Leadership in Water Infrastructure and Finance Award at the Africa WaterCredits Forum 2026 in Nairobi, after disbursing Sh4.39 billion in water and sanitation financing between March 2023 and August 2026
The award recognises the lender’s Co-op A Maji product, which offers financing for water tanks, solar pumps, connections, exhausters and bowsers, and smart meters.
The bank says the product has made it one of Kenya’s major financiers of water service companies, supporting projects in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
Co-op Bank Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr Gideon Muriuki, said: “Access to reliable water and sanitation remains one of Kenya’s most pressing development priorities, and innovative financing is essential to turn infrastructure ambitions into delivered services. Co-op A Maji reflects the Bank’s long-standing focus on sectors that drive inclusive growth and improve livelihoods at the community level.”
The disbursements fall under a partnership with Water.org launched in 2023. The three-year agreement targeted more than Sh3 billion in financing for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects, and improved access to water and sanitation for over 110,000 people.
The Sh4.39 billion disbursed is about 46 percent above the Sh3 billion mark. The bank did not say how many people have gained access so far.
The forum was held on Friday at the Radisson Blu in Nairobi. It brings together financial institutions, water utilities, development partners and sector stakeholders to accelerate commercial investment in water and sanitation across Africa.
