How to Start a Sachet Water Business in Kenya
- Treatment + sachet machine + KEBS
- Film roll pouches, filled and sealed
- Volume and distribution drive profit
- Check NEMA packaging rules
On this page
How Sachet Water Is Made
- Raw water (borehole or municipal) is tested.
- Treatment: sediment and carbon filters, RO or UF, then UV or ozone.
- The sachet machine forms a pouch from printed film, fills it and heat-seals it.
- Sachets are packed in bags or cartons for distribution.
Equipment You Need
| Stage | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Treatment | RO or UF plant sized to your output, UV sterilizer |
| Packing | Automatic sachet (pouch) filling and sealing machine |
| Quality | TDS and pH meters, lab tests |
| Other | Printed film rolls, storage tanks, a clean packing room |
RO-400G-D02B 5-Stage RO SystemKSh 98,000
Htech 500lph Ro water purifierKSh 380,000
H-Tech 6GPM 25W UV SterilizerKSh 13,000
TDS Handheld MeterKSh 6,500| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| RO-400G-D02B 5-Stage RO System | KSh 98,000 |
| Htech 500lph Ro water purifier | KSh 380,000 |
| H-Tech 6GPM 25W UV Sterilizer | KSh 13,000 |
| TDS Handheld Meter | KSh 6,500 |
Current listed prices incl. VAT (updated 7 October 2026).
Sachet and pouch machines: sachet and pouch packing machines. Output planning: packaging machine output calculator.
KEBS and NEMA
- KEBS: packaged drinking water must be certified (KEBS certification guide).
- NEMA: Kenya restricts some plastic packaging; confirm the current rules for drinking-water sachets before you buy film or machines.
- County business permit and premises approval.
Costs and Margins
Costs are the plant, the packing machine, film, power, labour and distribution. Each sachet earns a small margin, so profit depends on selling large volumes. Work out cost per unit first: cost per unit calculator.
Alternatives With Less Packaging
A refill station sells the same treated water into customers’ own bottles: water refilling business.
Watch: Starting a water refill business
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a sachet water business in Kenya?
Set up treatment (RO/UF + UV), a sachet filling and sealing machine, get KEBS certification and build distribution.
Is sachet water allowed in Kenya?
Check current NEMA rules on plastic packaging and KEBS certification before investing.
What machine makes sachet water?
An automatic form-fill-seal sachet machine that makes pouches from a film roll.
Is sachet water business profitable?
It can be at high volume with good distribution; the margin per sachet is small.
What treatment does sachet water need?
Filtration, RO or UF, and UV or ozone disinfection, with regular testing.