Biz Lounge: Meeting the demand for clean water: The story behind Madina Water Company
As the demand for affordable clean water continued to rise Anita Gitonga saw a business opportunity that will also provide solution to the need.
Alongside her husband David Gitonga, they founded water purifying company Madina Water with an aim of creating a solution that would positively impact public health while building a sustainable business
The idea, she says, was born out of both necessity and a sense of purpose.
“At the time, access to clean and affordable purified water was inconsistent, and I saw an opportunity,” she says.
According to Anita, choosing Nakuru was intentional.
“From the beginning, we wanted to build a trusted local brand that families could rely on every single day,” she explains.
The name Madina, she added, was carefully chosen to reflect the brand’s values. “Madina represents purity, trust, and community. Personally, it symbolizes responsibility—providing something essential to life,” Anita says, emphasizing that the brand stands for cleanliness, reliability, and service to the people of Nakuru.
Starting the company required careful financial planning. Anita reveals that the initial capital investment stood at about Sh1 million, which went into equipment, licensing, water treatment systems, and basic distribution.
“We funded the business mainly through personal savings and started lean, focusing on essentials and reinvesting early profits rather than cutting corners,” she notes.
In its early days, Madina Water operated on a small, hands-on scale. However, over time, the business evolved into a structured operation with trained staff, modern equipment, and a wider distribution network across Nakuru.
“Our growth has been steady and intentional, always guided by quality rather than speed,” Anita says.
A defining moment came when customer loyalty began to show. “When we started receiving repeat customers and institutional orders, we knew the business was taking shape. That consistency confirmed that people trusted our product and trust is everything in the water business,” she recalls.
Similarly, the first sale remains memorable. “It wasn’t just revenue; it was validation that the idea could work,” she adds.
To build trust, the company prioritized strict regulatory compliance, transparency, consistent quality, and strong community relationships.
Like many manufacturing businesses, challenges were inevitable. “Balancing costs while meeting regulatory and quality requirements was our biggest early challenge,” Anita admits, adding that discipline and reinvestment helped them overcome it. Today, standards are maintained through technology, continuous staff training, and regular quality checks.
Looking ahead, Anita says the focus remains on strengthening operations within Nakuru before expanding further.
Her advice to young entrepreneurs is simple yet firm: “Start small, follow regulations, prioritize quality, be patient, and reinvest. Manufacturing and utility businesses require discipline, but they are impactful and sustainable.” She concludes