University launches multinational research project to turn wastewater into resource
NICANOR NDIEGE-PCO
Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) has unveiled a bold multinational research initiative aimed at transforming urban wastewater from a public hazard into a valuable resource.
The initiative, dubbed “Pollutant Upcycling and Resource Recovery for Environmentally Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Municipal Wastewater Management (PURE-MW),” is funded under the African Regional Call of the Belmont Forum and brings together partners from Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Germany, and Turkey.
At the virtual launch, MMU Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Livingstone Ngoo described the project as “a pivotal moment” for the university and its global partners.
He painted a stark picture of clogged drainage systems and invisible chemical threats, warning that modern pollutants require modern solutions.
“This research must act like a grinding mill with a definite output—delivering tangible solutions that make the world safer and better,” Prof. Ngoo said.
He urged the consortium to go beyond academic publications and deliver innovations that municipalities and industries can adopt.
Intellectual property, commercialization, and measurable community impact, he said, must be the hallmarks of PURE-MW. Project Lead and Principal Investigator Dr. Eric Njogu described wastewater as “a hidden goldmine.”
He explained that PURE-MW will address two urgent priorities: removing dangerous contaminants and recovering usable resources to support a circular economy.
Pharmaceutical residues, endocrine disruptors, antibiotics, and phenolic chemicals are increasingly being detected in rivers, groundwater, and even drinking water.
These pollutants pose threats to human health, aquatic life, and longterm socio-economic stability. The three-year project will design purification systems capable of removing such contaminants while converting waste compounds into industrial feedstocks.
By reducing reliance on petroleum-based inputs, the consortium aims to reimagine wastewater management as climate-resilient and resource-efficient.
PURE-MW brings together a formidable network: Kyambogo University, Maseno University, University of Cape Town, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Makerere University, and Kenya Water Institute, among others.
MMU’s Director of Research and Innovation, Dr. David Wekesa, hailed the consortium as “aligned with forward-thinking global research trends.”
He stressed that findings must shape policy and legislation, not just theory.
“The outputs must bridge the gap between research and commercialization, guiding resource allocation and improving citizens’ lives,” Dr. Wekesa said.
Prof. Iyaya Wanjala, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, described PURE-MW as “a shared intellectual journey grounded in scientific excellence, multidisciplinary integration, and international collaboration.”
He called for harmonized methodologies, transparent data sharing, and strong governance to ensure success across borders.
“Geographical distance must never become intellectual distance,” he urged, emphasizing trust and shared ownership.
The project dovetails with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 priorities on climate resilience, pollution control, and the water–energy– food–health nexus.
It also integrates cross-cutting themes such as green and blue economies, education, and public awareness.
Funding comes from heavyweight agencies: Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF/DLR-PT), Future Earth, Kenya’s National Research Foundation (NRFKe), and Türkiye’s TUBITAK.