Borehole Drilling Cost in Kenya (2026)
A complete, equipped borehole in Kenya costs from about KES 1,245,260 to KES 6,563,860, depending on the county, the depth and the pump you choose. Drilling alone costs KES 5,950 to 9,100 per metre. The figures on this page come straight from our current price book.
What a borehole costs, item by item
A typical 150 m domestic borehole in Nairobi, with a grid-powered submersible pump:
| Survey & Permits | KES 75,000 |
|---|---|
| Mobilisation | KES 20,000 |
| Drilling | KES 1,050,000 |
| Casing & Screens | KES 450,000 |
| Gravel Pack & Grouting | KES 200,000 |
| Development & Test Pumping | KES 100,000 |
| Water Analysis | KES 15,000 |
| Pump & Equipping | KES 301,500 |
| Electrical & Control | KES 35,000 |
| Storage & Tower | KES 45,000 |
| Total including 16% VAT | KES 2,658,140 |
The item prices exclude VAT; the total includes it. Your quotation depends on the survey result, the final depth and the pump, power and storage you choose.
Solar vs electric borehole pump cost
Lower upfront cost. Best where mains power is reliable or water demand is high.
No electricity bills. Best for farms, rural homes and sites without reliable power.
Complete 150 m borehole in Nairobi, including VAT. Hybrid systems that switch between solar and grid are also available. See borehole pump prices in our marketplace.
Borehole drilling cost by county
Indicative prices for a complete, grid-powered domestic borehole at the shallow and deep end of each county's typical depth range. Select a county for its full cost breakdown.
| County | Typical depth | Drilling per metre | Equipped borehole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baringo | 80–200 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,851,940 – 3,765,940 |
| Bomet | 60–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,493,500 – 2,861,140 |
| Bungoma | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,438,980 – 2,953,940 |
| Busia | 50–150 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,491,180 – 3,064,140 |
| Elgeyo-Marakwet | 80–200 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,886,740 – 3,800,740 |
| Embu | 90–200 m | KES 7,000 | KES 1,861,220 – 3,452,740 |
| Garissa | 80–250 m | KES 8,400 | KES 2,008,540 – 4,885,340 |
| Homa Bay | 50–150 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,467,980 – 3,040,940 |
| Isiolo | 80–200 m | KES 8,400 | KES 1,950,540 – 4,003,740 |
| Kajiado | 150–300 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,681,340 – 5,044,260 |
| Kakamega | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,427,380 – 2,942,340 |
| Kericho | 60–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,505,100 – 2,872,740 |
| Kiambu | 120–280 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,233,580 – 4,738,020 |
| Kilifi | 40–150 m | KES 5,950 | KES 1,268,460 – 2,675,540 |
| Kirinyaga | 90–200 m | KES 7,000 | KES 1,852,520 – 3,444,040 |
| Kisii | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,386,780 – 2,901,740 |
| Kisumu | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,409,980 – 2,924,940 |
| Kitui | 100–250 m | KES 7,350 | KES 2,089,740 – 4,334,340 |
| Kwale | 40–150 m | KES 5,950 | KES 1,268,460 – 2,675,540 |
| Laikipia | 100–220 m | KES 7,350 | KES 2,101,340 – 3,903,980 |
| Lamu | 40–150 m | KES 6,650 | KES 1,419,260 – 2,953,940 |
| Machakos | 120–250 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,248,080 – 4,122,640 |
| Makueni | 100–250 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,014,340 – 4,171,940 |
| Mandera | 100–300 m | KES 9,100 | KES 2,797,340 – 6,563,860 |
| Marsabit | 80–250 m | KES 9,100 | KES 2,199,940 – 5,273,940 |
| Meru | 90–220 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,971,420 – 3,921,380 |
| Migori | 60–160 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,621,100 – 3,228,860 |
| Mombasa | 40–120 m | KES 5,950 | KES 1,245,260 – 2,279,980 |
| Murang'a | 100–220 m | KES 7,000 | KES 1,976,640 – 3,709,680 |
| Nairobi | 150–300 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,658,140 – 5,021,060 |
| Nakuru | 100–250 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,020,140 – 4,177,740 |
| Nandi | 60–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,539,900 – 2,907,540 |
| Narok | 80–200 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,733,040 – 3,577,440 |
| Nyamira | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,380,980 – 2,895,940 |
| Nyandarua | 100–220 m | KES 7,350 | KES 2,054,940 – 3,857,580 |
| Nyeri | 100–200 m | KES 7,000 | KES 2,014,340 – 3,464,340 |
| Samburu | 80–200 m | KES 8,750 | KES 2,037,540 – 4,160,340 |
| Siaya | 50–150 m | KES 7,700 | KES 1,467,980 – 3,040,940 |
| Taita-Taveta | 80–200 m | KES 6,650 | KES 1,764,940 – 3,470,140 |
| Tana River | 60–200 m | KES 7,000 | KES 1,580,500 – 3,638,340 |
| Tharaka-Nithi | 90–200 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,948,220 – 3,603,540 |
| Trans Nzoia | 60–160 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,574,700 – 3,124,460 |
| Turkana | 60–200 m | KES 9,100 | KES 1,934,300 – 4,479,340 |
| Uasin Gishu | 80–180 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,828,740 – 3,378,500 |
| Vihiga | 50–150 m | KES 7,350 | KES 1,415,780 – 2,930,740 |
| Wajir | 100–300 m | KES 9,100 | KES 2,652,340 – 6,418,860 |
| West Pokot | 80–200 m | KES 8,400 | KES 2,031,740 – 4,084,940 |
What affects the cost of a borehole?
- Depth and geology. Drilling is charged per metre, and harder rock or deeper water costs more. The hydrogeological survey estimates both before you commit.
- Distance from our base. Mobilising the rig, compressor and crew is a fixed cost that grows with distance from Nairobi.
- Casing and diameter. uPVC casing suits most domestic boreholes; steel casing and wider 8" to 10" boreholes for high-yield farm and commercial wells cost more.
- Pump and power. Pump size follows the tested yield and the height water must be lifted. Solar adds panels but removes power bills.
- Storage and plumbing. Tanks, elevated towers and pipework to your house or farm are priced to suit the site.
- Water treatment. Needed only when the laboratory analysis shows high fluoride, iron, salinity or hardness.
- Permits. WRA authorisation is required for every borehole; some sites also need NEMA or county approvals.
How borehole drilling works
- 1Enquiry & free site consultation
- 2Hydrogeological survey
- 3Permits (WRA / NEMA / county)
- 4Mobilisation & drilling
- 5Casing, gravel pack & development
- 6Test pumping & water analysis
- 7Pump, power & storage installation
- 8Commissioning, handover & aftercare
Read more about each stage on our borehole drilling services page.
Borehole cost questions
How much does it cost to drill a borehole in Kenya?
A complete, equipped domestic borehole costs from about KES 1,245,260 to KES 6,563,860, including the survey, permits, drilling, casing, test pumping, pump and VAT. Depth, the county and the pump and power source make most of the difference.
What is the cost of drilling a borehole per metre in Kenya?
Drilling costs between KES 5,950 and KES 9,100 per metre, depending on the county and the rock. Casing, gravel pack, test pumping and the pump are priced separately, and you pay for the depth actually drilled.
How much do the hydrogeological survey and permits cost?
About KES 75,000 in a typical estimate, covering the survey, the report and preparing the applications, plus the statutory fees payable to WRA and, where required, NEMA and the county.
How much does a solar-powered borehole cost?
At 150 m in Nairobi, a solar pump with panels costs about KES 372,360 more than a grid-powered pump, for a total of about KES 3,030,500. In return there are no electricity bills, which usually pays back the difference within a few years.
Why does borehole drilling cost more in some counties?
Three things: how deep the water is, how hard the rock is to drill, and how far the rig and crew travel from our base. Each county page shows its typical depth, per-metre rate and mobilisation cost.
How long does it take to drill a borehole?
Drilling itself takes 2 to 5 days. With the survey, permits, test pumping and equipping, allow 3 to 6 weeks from order to running water.
Do I pay the full amount upfront?
No. A 60% deposit confirms the job and the balance is due after test pumping, before equipping. Drilling and casing are charged on the depth actually drilled.