When you meet Eng. Robert Gakubia, one of the first things you notice is his quiet confidence. His authority doesn’t come from titles alone; it stems from a lifetime dedicated to engineering excellence, reform, and serving the people of Kenya. With over 30 years of experience in the water and sanitation sector, he has earned a reputation for principled leadership rooted in integrity, technical expertise, and a strong belief in people’s right to safe water and sanitation.
His journey began at the University of Nairobi, where he trained as an engineer, and later at IHE Delft in the Netherlands, where he expanded his expertise in water and sanitation. He is a Professional Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya [EBK] and a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya [IEK].
Before gaining national prominence, he worked at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and eventually became the Director of Water Services. Those years gave him essential insights into how institutions operate, how reforms develop and take hold, and, more importantly, where the main structural challenges are. They also shaped his belief that strong systems are crucial for delivering lasting change.
He recalls that long before the policy and regulatory reforms started, the roots of change were planted in 1992 with two key studies: the National Water Master Plan, supported by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency [JICA], and the Delineation Study of the Water Sector in Kenya, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). These early reports sparked the initial wave of reform in Kenya’s water sector and significantly influenced his own thinking.
For thirteen years, Eng. Gakubia served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), guiding the development of the separation of roles and responsibilities (policy, regulation, and service delivery) through its most formative years. His leadership required courage and consistency. As CEO, he fiercely defended the regulatory mandate, even amid mounting political pressures. Despite stakeholder tensions, political interference, and resistance to accountability, he stayed steadfast, safeguarding WASREB’s independence and credibility.
He consistently argued that the goals of reform—such as better access, enhanced accountability, reduced inequalities, improved cost recovery, and lower losses [both at the sector and service provision levels]—could only be achieved through increased efficiency, stronger institutions, better financing models, and greater transparency. He promoted performance monitoring, benchmarking, and responsible governance as key tools for strengthening utilities and preparing them for sustainable financing. His dedication to accountability helped foster an environment where utilities could be evaluated fairly and motivated to improve.
His reform agenda extends well beyond regulation. He currently chairs the Board of Fresh Life, an organization that partners with utilities and urban residents to develop and expand safe, inclusive, and financially sustainable citywide sanitation solutions. He is also a Trustee of the Water Services Maintenance Trust Fund [WSMTF], an organization that supports rural water system sustainability through post-construction assistance. Moreover, his influence reaches the global stage. Eng. Gakubia is serving his second term on the Supervisory Board of the Water Integrity Network (WIN), helping international efforts to promote transparency and fight corruption in the water sector. WIN’s strategy aims to catalyze integrity, which closely aligns with his values.
Today, he continues to shape the sector in his role as Director at Blackburn Associates Ltd. His work centers on institutional reform, policy implementation, and regulating water and sanitation services. He focuses on strengthening governance in utilities, enhancing their creditworthiness, and supporting the development of sustainable financing models. His efforts also include laying the foundation for public-private partnerships, improving accountability, and building integrity structures to advance the human rights to water and sanitation.
As an independent WASH expert, Eng. Gakubia continues to advise governments, utilities, and development partners. He offers the same calm conviction, extensive experience, and principled leadership that have defined his career.
#MyWaterStoryCampaign: The Story of Eng. Robert Gakubia, the Reformist Guided by Integrity
When you meet Eng. Robert Gakubia, one of the first things you notice is his quiet confidence. His authority doesn’t come from titles alone; it stems from a lifetime dedicated to engineering excellence, reform, and serving the people of Kenya. With over 30 years of experience in the water and sanitation sector, he has earned a reputation for principled leadership rooted in integrity, technical expertise, and a strong belief in people’s right to safe water and sanitation.
His journey began at the University of Nairobi, where he trained as an engineer, and later at IHE Delft in the Netherlands, where he expanded his expertise in water and sanitation. He is a Professional Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya [EBK] and a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya [IEK].
Before gaining national prominence, he worked at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and eventually became the Director of Water Services. Those years gave him essential insights into how institutions operate, how reforms develop and take hold, and, more importantly, where the main structural challenges are. They also shaped his belief that strong systems are crucial for delivering lasting change.
He recalls that long before the policy and regulatory reforms started, the roots of change were planted in 1992 with two key studies: the National Water Master Plan, supported by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency [JICA], and the Delineation Study of the Water Sector in Kenya, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). These early reports sparked the initial wave of reform in Kenya’s water sector and significantly influenced his own thinking.
For thirteen years, Eng. Gakubia served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), guiding the development of the separation of roles and responsibilities (policy, regulation, and service delivery) through its most formative years. His leadership required courage and consistency. As CEO, he fiercely defended the regulatory mandate, even amid mounting political pressures. Despite stakeholder tensions, political interference, and resistance to accountability, he stayed steadfast, safeguarding WASREB’s independence and credibility.
He consistently argued that the goals of reform—such as better access, enhanced accountability, reduced inequalities, improved cost recovery, and lower losses [both at the sector and service provision levels]—could only be achieved through increased efficiency, stronger institutions, better financing models, and greater transparency. He promoted performance monitoring, benchmarking, and responsible governance as key tools for strengthening utilities and preparing them for sustainable financing. His dedication to accountability helped foster an environment where utilities could be evaluated fairly and motivated to improve.
His reform agenda extends well beyond regulation. He currently chairs the Board of Fresh Life, an organization that partners with utilities and urban residents to develop and expand safe, inclusive, and financially sustainable citywide sanitation solutions. He is also a Trustee of the Water Services Maintenance Trust Fund [WSMTF], an organization that supports rural water system sustainability through post-construction assistance. Moreover, his influence reaches the global stage. Eng. Gakubia is serving his second term on the Supervisory Board of the Water Integrity Network (WIN), helping international efforts to promote transparency and fight corruption in the water sector. WIN’s strategy aims to catalyze integrity, which closely aligns with his values.
Today, he continues to shape the sector in his role as Director at Blackburn Associates Ltd. His work centers on institutional reform, policy implementation, and regulating water and sanitation services. He focuses on strengthening governance in utilities, enhancing their creditworthiness, and supporting the development of sustainable financing models. His efforts also include laying the foundation for public-private partnerships, improving accountability, and building integrity structures to advance the human rights to water and sanitation.
As an independent WASH expert, Eng. Gakubia continues to advise governments, utilities, and development partners. He offers the same calm conviction, extensive experience, and principled leadership that have defined his career.
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