Mombasa among 4 cities in race to host global salty water summit

Mombasa County has been shortlisted among four cities bidding to host the 2021 global desalination conference.

The congress is a high-profile event to be attended by more than 2,500 delegates, who are key players in desalination and water reuse technologies.

Kenya intends to use the global congress scheduled for October 2021 to create awareness on desalination and water reuse as it seeks to exploit sea water to end perennial shortages of the commodity in the country. Mombasa, for instance, faces acute water shortage despite lying along sea shore.

A delegation from the congress inspectors are in the county to assess its ability to host the global congress.

International Desalination Association (IDA) serves more than 2,600 core members in 60 countries and reaches an additional 4,000 affiliate members around the world.

Scientists, utilities and other end-users, engineers, consultants, financiers, developers, researchers and students representing governments, corporations and academia are members.

Speaking during a press briefing Deputy Governor William Kingi said the conference will help educate people and create awareness on desalination.

“Today is indeed a great day for us. We are one of the four cities which if qualified will host the desalination conference. They are here to access and we are very confident that we have the capacity and infrastructure to hold the conference, “said Dr Kingi.

He said the technologies would be a solution to water shortage in Africa.

“We are going to be the first county in Africa to host it. The technology is very important to us as a solution to the water problems. The conference will bring a lot of awareness to this technology, “he said.

IDA Secretary- General Shannon McCarthy said the organisation started 45 years ago to help in desalination, water reuse and recycling.

National water harvesting and storage authority CEO Sammy Mburu said the conference is not only important for Mombasa County but also for Kenya.

“The central government is in full support. This conference is also coming at an opportune time. Resources of the ocean are limitless. Also desalination has not quite taken effect in Africa. It is important for the technology to be showcased,” he said.