Kenya has taken a step forward in addressing the severe water crisis that faces developing countries by building its first solar-powered farm that turns ocean water into potable water.

Built by non-governmental organisation GivePower, the project is expected to provide 20 years of access to clean water and benefit over 25 000 people daily, according to online publication Africa Energy Portal.

“With our background in off-grid clean energy, GivePower can immediately help by deploying solar water farm solutions to save lives in areas throughout the world that suffer from prolonged water scarcity,” its president Hayes Barnard said.

The solar powered farm is sited by the Indian Ocean in the village of Kiunga on Kenya's eastern coast. The region has seen extreme drought for years, denying the 3 500 residents access to hygienic drinking water.

The solar water farm will harvest solar energy able to power two water pumps that run 24 hours a day, turning salty water safely into drinkable water.

With a population of 50-million, 41 percent of Kenyans still rely on unimproved water sources such as ponds, shallow wells and rivers, while 71 percent use unimproved sanitation solutions. 

This is prevalent especially in rural areas and urban slums. 

Only nine out of 55 public service providers in Kenya provide continuous water supply.