Which is the best water pump in Kenya?

Are you looking for the best irrigation water pumps for sale in Kenya? There are tens of options you can buy and install for use on your farm or home. This series is a guide to choose an efficient irrigation water pump. It looks into 2 key areas in a 2 part series

• Types of water pumps in kenya for sale
• Where to buy the best water pumps in Kenya.

In this post you will learn about various types of water pumps in Kenya. While most reviews for buying water pumps classify them as displacement, submersible, centrifugal or surface water pumps, we have categorised them based on source of energy. As such we have them as solar, electric, generator (diesel/petrol), motorbike, wind mill, hydram, and syphons. Below, we break down each type, their top brands, approximate prices, and pros and cons to help you choose.

Solar water pumps

Solar water pumps use sunlight energy. It has a photovoltaic solar panel that converts it into an AC or DC electric current. You can buy the solar surface types for shallow wells, rivers and pools. You will use submersible solar pumps for deep wells and boreholes.

The Solar water pump prices in Kenya is from KES 50,000. Though it is expensive to buy and install, it is cheaper in the long run. You will have to pay no bills and they require little maintenance. They are the only choice in off-grid rural areas. The eco-friendly farmers prefer solar pumps to conserve water and energy.

Solar water pumps, powered by photovoltaic panels, are increasingly popular for off-grid use in Kenya. Research suggests top brands include:

• Grundfos: Known for durable, efficient solar pumps.
• Lorentz: Offers high-quality solar submersible and surface pumps.
• SunPumps: Provides cost-effective solar solutions for irrigation.

Price Range: Typically KES 50,000 to KES 500,000, depending on capacity (e.g., 1kW systems for small farms to larger 5kW systems).

Pros:

• Sustainable, leveraging Kenya’s abundant sunlight.
• Low operating costs after installation, ideal for remote areas.
• Environmentally friendly, reducing carbon footprint.

Cons:

• High initial investment, which may deter small-scale users.
• Performance depends on sunlight, requiring battery storage for cloudy days or night use.
• Installation may need professional setup, adding to costs.

Where to buy solar water pumps in Kenya: Available at Davis & Shirtliff and Grekkon Limited, with prices varying by model

Electric water pumps

Electric water pumps use the electric current from the power grid.  You can buy submersible or displacement pumps for your farm. Install the  Large farms can install the 3-phase pumps that require substantial power and pump more water. Small-scale farmers can use single-phase pumps, which need less energy. Electric water pumps can be expensive from paying for high electricity bills. The pumps are quiet and produce no fumes.

Electric water pumps, running on grid electricity, are common for urban and peri-urban homes. Top brands include:

• Grundfos: Offers a wide range, from submersible to surface pumps.
• Pedrollo: Known for affordability and reliability in Kenya.
• Franklin Electric: Popular for borehole and irrigation pumps.

Price Range: From KES 10,000 for a 0.5 HP submersible to KES 50,000 for a 2 HP pump, suitable for household and small commercial use.

Pros:

• Easy to operate, with straightforward installation.
• Relatively affordable compared to solar or engine-driven options.
• Available in various capacities, fitting diverse needs.

Cons:

• Dependent on electricity supply, which can be unreliable in rural areas.
• Higher operating costs due to electricity bills, especially with frequent use.
• Not suitable for off-grid locations without grid access.

Where to Find: Widely available at Water Pumps Kenya and local hardware stores.

Generator water pumps

Generator water pumps are the most widely used in the region. They are cheap, portable, and accessible in many towns across Kenya. Besides, they are easy and convenient to operate for any farmer. You can buy diesel or petrol generator surface pumps. Some popular brands are Honda and magnar, etc.

The key challenge with water generators is the use of fossil fuels. Their fumes pollute the air, and they are noisy. The high-pressure water generators price is as low as KES 14,000 from online shops. Secondhand water pumps can ever be cheaper.

These are engine-driven pumps, powered by diesel or petrol, useful in areas without electricity. Top brands include:

• Aico: Offers robust petrol and diesel pumps for agriculture.
• Tiger: Known for high-pressure diesel pumps, popular in construction.
• Koshin: Provides portable petrol pumps for small-scale use.

Price Range: Petrol pumps range from KES 20,000 to KES 50,000; diesel pumps from KES 50,000 to over KES 100,000, depending on horsepower (e.g., 5hp to 30hp).

Pros:

• Independent of grid electricity, ideal for remote or emergency use.
• Portable, with options for easy transport to fields or construction sites.
• High capacity, suitable for large-scale irrigation or water transfer.

Cons:

• Higher initial cost compared to electric pumps.
• Fuel costs can be significant, especially for diesel models.
• Requires regular maintenance, including engine servicing.

Where to Find: Available at Aqua Hub Kenya and Water Pumps Kenya, with dealer networks across Kenya.

Motorbike water pumps

It is a small motorbike water pump you can attach to the engine shaft of your motorcycle engine. It uses a spindle to rotate blades that suck water in the inlet pipe and pump it out of the output tube. Connect it to the engines’ shaft. It’s quick to assemble, very portable and cheap both to buy and operate.

 The engine can have 1500-5000 rotations per minute (RPM) when the motorcycle is in an idle run. It can consume diesel or petrol of 0.2-0.4 litres only per hour. Its overhead is 22- 40 m3/hour. (22,000-40,000 liters/hour). The pump can attain a continuous operating time of 100 hours. The price motorbike water pump is Ksh 10,932 in Kenya for a 5 Hp motorcycle from Jumia online shop. Besides a motorbike, you can attach it to mini cultivators or tut-tuk engines.

small, portable petrol-powered pumps, possibly attached to motorbikes for rural irrigation. Top brands include:

• Aico: Offers compact petrol pumps, suitable for small-scale use.
• Tiger: Known for lightweight, portable units.
• Koshin: Provides small engine-driven pumps, easy to transport.

Price Range: From KES 10,000 to KES 30,000, typically less than 1 HP, for limited flow rates.

Pros:

• Compact and portable, easy to carry or attach to vehicles like motorbikes.
• Low initial cost compared to larger generator pumps.
• Suitable for small farms or gardens, especially in remote areas.

Cons:

• Limited capacity, not ideal for large-scale irrigation.
• Fuel and maintenance costs, similar to generator pumps but on a smaller scale.
• May require manual handling, adding labor for users.

Where to Find: Check Agcenture for portable pump options, often used in agricultural settings

Windmills

Windmills use the wind to pump water for many years in many ranches, farms and mines since the 9th century. Wind water pumps use multi-blades or fan-like rotor to move a piston that draws water by moving up and down.

The windpumps have many benefits. The energy is free, has zero air pollution and is low tech to install and run. They are very durable with little maintenance.

\You can use windmills to draw and water crops in summer or dry periods. They are ideal for you if electric power is not available in your area or the bills are too expensive for you.

Wind mill water pumps, powered by wind energy, are suitable for areas with consistent wind. Top brands include:

• Kirloskar: Offers wind-powered pumps for irrigation and water supply.
• Windstream: Known for small-scale wind pump systems.
• Proven Energy: Provides durable wind mill pumps for rural use.

Price Range: From KES 200,000 to KES 500,000 and above, depending on tower height and pump capacity.

Pros:

• Renewable energy source, leveraging Kenya’s windy regions.
• No operating costs after installation, reducing long-term expenses.
• Eco-friendly, with no fuel or electricity needed.

Cons:

• High initial cost, which may be prohibitive for small farmers.
• Dependent on wind availability, limiting use in calm areas.
• Requires maintenance for mechanical parts, such as bearings and blades.

Where to Find: Look at Kirloskar for wind pump systems, often imported through local dealers.

Syphons

Siphons are not water pumps per se. You will use a simple garden hose pipe to drain water from a high-level pool, pond or tank into lower-level storage or field. You need to suck water to start the flow. It will continue to drain until it’s gone, or you lift the drain opening above the source water source.

How does a siphon work? View the YouTube video above of a siphon watering system in a cotton farm.

Syphons use gravity to transfer water from a higher to a lower elevation, not a true pump but included for completeness. They are generic, with no specific brands:

• Availability: Simple pipes or tubing, available from plumbing suppliers.

Price Range: Varies by pipe length and type, typically KES 500 to KES 5,000 for basic setups.

Pros:

• No power required, leveraging gravity for downhill flow.
• Simple and cost-effective, easy to set up for basic water transfer.
• Low maintenance, with minimal components.

Cons:

• Only works if the water source is higher than the destination, limiting use.
• May require priming to start the flow, adding initial effort.
• Not suitable for pumping water uphill, restricting applications.

Where to Find: Available at local hardware stores or Aqua Hub Kenya for pipes and fittings.

Hydrams

Hydraulic ram pumps (hydram) are fuel-less water pumps used for over 200 years. It uses a hydropower or water hammer mechanism. Fast-moving water gets pushed in a small opening to create hydraulic pressure. It will force water to escape in a smaller pipe to a storage tank above the pump. It can pump water for over 200 meters.

Their benefit is that they are simple, durable and free to operate. Hydrams are ideal in a remote area with a slope. The high-volume water should flow to the pump.

Hydram, or hydraulic ram, pumps use the energy of flowing water to pump a portion to a higher elevation, requiring no external power. Due to their generic nature, specific brands are less common, but they are available through suppliers:

• Generic Options: Often locally made or imported, with no dominant brand.

Price Range: From KES 5,000 to KES 20,000, depending on size and flow capacity.

Pros:

• No external power source needed, ideal for remote areas with streams.
• Low cost, making it accessible for small communities.
• Simple and reliable, with few moving parts.

Cons:

• Requires a source of flowing water with sufficient head and flow rate.
• Only pumps a small portion of water to a higher elevation, limiting output.
• Not suitable for locations without a natural water flow.

Where to Find: Available through local suppliers or Davis & Shirtliff, often used in rural water projects.

How to Choose the Best Pump Type for your Farm

When choosing a pump, consider following 4 key considerations

• Type Suitability: Solar for off-grid, electric for grid-connected, generator for remote, wind for windy areas, hydram for flowing water, and syphons for downhill transfer.
• Cost vs. Need: Balance initial cost (e.g., wind mills are expensive) with operating costs (e.g., electric pumps have bills).
• Location: Nairobi’s Industrial Area, like Enterprise Road, is a hub, but regional branches (e.g., Grekkon in Eldoret) cater to rural needs.
• Maintenance: Engine-driven pumps (generator, motorbike) require regular servicing, while hydrams and syphons are low-maintenance.