Morogoro Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (MORUWASA) used to lose nearly half its treated water—an eye-watering 43 %—to hidden leaks and unreported bursts. Families in wards such as Chamwino often went weeks without a drop, while the utility haemorrhaged revenue and struggled to fund upgrades. Kinara’s solution is a civic tech partnership that turns the problem into an opportunity for youth leadership and better service.
A corps of Community Change Agents (CCAs)—local young people trained by Kinara—patrols neighbourhoods armed with the mWater smartphone app. When they spot a leak, they log its GPS position, attach photos and alert MORUWASA plumbers in real time. The same volunteers carry out household surveys, mapping where taps run dry so repairs can be prioritised by impact.
The live data portal closes the loop: MORUWASA tracks each ticket, citizens see action, and CCAs build project-management skills. Early successes were striking. In the pilot year the ten participating wards recorded more days with water than without; leak repairs quadrupled the following year. As non-revenue water falls, the utility frees cash to extend pipes and improve pressure—a virtuous cycle of trust and investment.
The programme now aims to expand to every ward in Morogoro, proving that when citizens, youth and utilities share data and responsibility, everyone benefits: mothers spend less time queuing for water, young people gain leadership experience, and MORUWASA delivers the reliable service its customers expect.
