NAIROBI, Kenya BioTank Africa is taking its annual Fundi Forum beyond Nairobi, with the third edition set to bring together about 400 fundis, contractors and plumbers in Kitengela on August 28.

The event will be the largest edition of the forum since its launch in 2023 and the first to adopt a county-based format, with future editions expected to rotate across different towns.

Organisers say Kitengela was selected because of its rapidly expanding construction and real estate activity and its accessibility to artisans working across the targeted counties.

But behind the expansion of the forum is a wider sanitation challenge facing Kenya, where limited access to municipal sewer networks means millions of households and institutions depend on onsite wastewater systems.

According to the latest Impact Report from the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), only about nine percent of Kenya's population—roughly five million people out of an estimated 54 million—are connected to municipal sewer networks.

For the majority of households, schools, health facilities and commercial buildings outside sewered areas, systems such as septic tanks and biodigesters remain essential for managing wastewater.

This makes the skills of plumbers, fundis and other construction artisans critical to ensuring that these systems are installed and maintained correctly.

Training fundis to improve sanitation standards

BioTank Africa says the Fundi Forum is designed to address skills gaps among artisans while giving them practical knowledge that can improve installation standards and create business opportunities.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) estimates that only about 30 percent of construction artisans have formal technical training, according to the company.

The forum will therefore combine technical training with business support, including hands-on installation demonstrations and a business clinic aimed at artisans seeking to formalise or grow their enterprises.

Participants will also be introduced to BioTank Africa's latest product lines.

Edwin Kirugo, General Manager at BioTank Africa, said fundis play a critical role because they are directly involved in installations across the country.

"Our fundis are our biggest ambassadors," Kirugo said.

He said taking the forum county by county would allow the company to reach artisans closer to where construction and installation work is taking place.

The company says the initiative is particularly important as biodigester technology continues to gain ground as an alternative to conventional septic systems.

BioTank expands as sanitation demand grows

The August forum comes several months after BioTank Africa launched its "Kuwa Mbele Jenga Easy" customer-focused campaign in April 2026.

The company is also marking eight years of operations in Kenya and has opened a branch in Nakuru as it prepares to introduce a distributor model across more towns.

BioTank Africa specialises in plastic and concrete biodigesters designed as alternatives to conventional septic systems for residential, commercial and institutional use.

The company says its three-chamber systems are designed to treat domestic sewage while reducing odours and the frequency of exhausters required for conventional systems.

Kirugo said the expansion of artisan training is also linked to broader public health and sanitation objectives.

With most Kenyans relying on onsite sanitation, he argued, the quality of installation can have consequences that extend beyond individual properties.

What to expect at the Kitengela forum

The Fundi Forum will take place on August 28, 2026, in Kitengela town, bringing together approximately 400 fundis, contractors and plumbers.

The programme will include:

• Practical biodigester installation demonstrations
• Technical training on installation standards
• A business clinic for artisans
• Product demonstrations and showcases
• Networking among fundis, contractors and industry players

Registration is ongoing through BioTank Africa's registration channels. Interested participants can also contact the organisers on +254 709 006 300.

The move to a county-based model could make the forum a more decentralised platform for technical training as Kenya's construction sector continues to expand and demand for reliable onsite sanitation solutions grows.