Born a January Aquarius, Kelvin Gacheru seemingly came into the world with an affinity for water. It is no wonder he went on to innovate a water monitoring system that has saved thousands from mismanaging water. Christened as Mobi-Water, his innovation has meant the difference between knowing one’s level of water consumption and having very little information about water usage. 

As a child, Kelvin dissected machinery with a precision that could match any repairman. He was, after all, the family mechanic. All devices that broke down passed through his hands. This practical skill saw him become the hands-on inventor he is today.  When the opportunity came to study aviation in Eldoret, he instead opted for the more niche area of Water Resource Management at the University of Nairobi. Kelvin set off on this new journey in 2009. He came out of the other end in 2014 with a degree and a job as a water engineer.

Identifying a Gap 

During this first job, Kelvin showed his mettle as a leader. Despite being a fresh graduate, he was put in charge of his own projects. He oversaw boreholes being dug among other water-related work. As time went on, he also discovered a dire problem in the water industry.  Kelvin realised that after about four months, he would track the progress of water projects, but site visits were not nearly enough to paint a true picture of water consumption in communities.  

In April 2016, Kelvin quit his job. He resolved that the only way forward was to have real-time tracking of water consumption to maximise the performance of water projects and ensure that remote communities could access information on their water without waiting for physical inspections.  

Being a Part of the Solution 

Kelvin and some friends came together and built tank-level sensors– to sense how much water was in a tank. The brilliant inclusion of an in-built sim-card meant that water levels could be monitored through up-to-date data every 10 minutes! What’s more, Kelvin’s dedication to real-time solutions meant users could even set alarms for when the water dipped below a certain level.  This electronic solution would be revolutionary in helping users establish what their water habits were.  

But first, Kelvin had to make sure that the device worked. And what better testing ground than an agricultural set-up where water is essential? So, he built a couple of greenhouses and installed the sensors there. Although the monitoring devices proved to be effective in measuring water, Kelvin found agriculture difficult. In fact, the strawberries in the greenhouses did not thrive, and he ended up eating them!  But not all was lost. With a working innovation, Kelvin formed his company Mobi-Water – named after the mobile-compatible sensors he had built.  

Although agriculture proved unsuccessful, Kelvin explored other fields where Mobi-Water would be a necessity.  Sure enough, he found a group of hotels often running out of water. This time he was certain his device would give insights on how to maintain water levels. His system proved successful. It was so successful that Mobi-Water was the runner-up for the Africa prize for Engineering in 2017/2018 among other awards. In 2019, with the encouragement of international recognition and the clients he had changed the lives of, Kelvin set off to chase even bigger projects.  

From Strength to Strength 

Ever the innovator, Kelvin developed a cloud-based monitoring system to provide an alternative to the sim-based technology initially developed. These smart metres communicate and track water usage. But as a young entrepreneur in his 20s with a product never seen in the Kenyan arena, Kelvin had a difficult task ahead of him convincing organisations that he could assist them with water management. The confidence Kelvin had since childhood never left him and carried him through his search for clients.  

Because of his perseverance, Mobi-Water can be found in a wide range of outfits across the nation. These include huge outlets like Galleria Mall, boutique hotels such as Social House, water dispensaries across the country, and even in Murang’a County via its sanitation company. From Mobi-Water’s Nairobi office, the team can track the progress and water usage of projects all over Kenya without having to visit sites. Kelvin’s gamble was paying off and his company had commercial success as well as provided invaluable services to remote areas.  

On average, his devices reduce water consumption by up to 30-40%. This is because users can easily see leakages and have information on water wastage. Kelvin’s passion for adding value to his clients has earned him work from over 100 organisations. As of August 2022, he has installed an impressive 900 water monitoring systems with some in countries like Zambia and Tanzania.  

We are floored by this trailblazing innovator who has made a friend of risk in order to bring effective water use to the fore in communities that need it the most.  

#KeInnovators