Engineer Daniel Ng’ang’a is a Kenyan water sector professional whose career has spanned engineering, water utility management, community development, and sector advocacy.
Ng’ang’a grew up in Nakuru as the sixth of 12 children in a family of 20. His early life was marked by financial challenges, experiences that shaped his determination and work ethic.
He later pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where he largely financed his education himself.
He subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Policy.
Career Journey
His professional career began in the road sector, where he worked on infrastructure projects including Mbagathi Way.
However, his interest eventually shifted to the water sector. In 2005, he joined Nyahururu Water as Technical Superintendent.
While at Nyahururu Water, Ng’ang’a turned down a job opportunity at Huawei that would have increased his monthly salary from KSh28,000 to KSh98,000.
Daniel Ng’ang’a said his decision was guided by his passion for the water sector and his belief that financial gain was not the only measure of career success.
In 2007, he joined Murang’a Water as General Manager, where he was tasked with helping establish and strengthen the utility.
He inherited an organization that brought together staff from different institutions and introduced measures to improve discipline, coordination, and performance.
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Daniel Ng’ang’a Roles and Tenure
During his tenure, Murang’a Water expanded its sanitation services, increased sewer coverage and developed partnerships to improve sanitation in both formal and informal settlements.
The utility also introduced initiatives including the Fort Aqua water franchise and Majicare Sacco.
Under his leadership, Murang’a Water grew into one of the better-performing water service providers in the country.
The utility currently serves hundreds of thousands of residents and employs more than 180 people.
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Other Projects
Beyond Murang’a, Daniel Ng’ang’a has been involved in national and international water sector advocacy.
As a former chairman of the Water Services Providers Association, he championed collaboration among water utilities and supported the recruitment of the association’s first chief executive officer.
He has also represented Kenyan water service providers on the governing council of the International Water Association and participated in the World Bank’s New IBNet platform, which enables water utilities to share data and improve performance.
His approach to leadership has been shaped by several mentors, including Equity Group founder Dr Peter Munga, former Water Services Regulatory Board CEO Eng. Robert Gakubia and Tana Water Works chief executive Eng. Philip Gichuki.
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