The Davis & Shirtliff Group is the leading supplier of water and energy-related equipment in the East African region. Founded in Kenya in 1946, the company specializes in eight principal sectors:
Solar Solutions: Providing solar panels, support structures, water heaters, inverters, backup systems, solar pumps, controls, accessories, and energy storage systems.
General Machinery: Supplying diesel and petrol generators, welding generators, engines, mowers, trimmers, compressors, pressure washers, outboard engines, and agricultural machinery such as hammer mills.
Swimming Pools: Specializing in pool filters, pumps, chemicals, chlorinators, accessories, spas, saunas, and fountain nozzles.
Water Treatment: Offering solutions for domestic and industrial applications, including reverse osmosis systems, UV systems, water treatment plants, filters, softeners, chemical dosage systems, and treatment media.
Chemicals: Providing water treatment chemicals, laboratory chemicals, and associated equipment.
Irrigation & Water Supply Accessories: Supplying irrigation kits, Hunter accessories, pressure tanks, water meters, and other related products.
Controllers & Digital Solutions: Including pump controllers, control panels, and meters for enhanced system management.
Headquartered in Kenya, Davis & Shirtliff operates under an extensive network of branches across 12 countries namely Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Somalia and Burundi, alongside a partnership in Ethiopia. Recently, the company has expanded its operations to include Senegal. This represents 109 branches across the various countries.
The company is renowned for its innovative, sustainable, and efficient solutions that cater to residential, commercial, and industrial needs in the Water & Energy sectors.
History
The Davis & Shirtliff Group was founded in 1946 as a partnership between EC 'Eddie' Davis and FR 'Dick' Shirtliff after Dick Shirtliff purchased 50% of RH Paige & Co., a small plumbing and water engineering firm founded in 1926 and which was bought into by Eddie Davis in 1945.[1]
In 1965 it took delivery of the first consignment of pumps from Grundfos in Denmark and, in 1968, imported a consignment of Davey pumps from Australia. In 1982 the range of Grundfos products was expanded to include solar pumps.
1985 saw the appointment of Butech Limited as the Mombasa distributor of their products and the commencement of fibreglass filter production. In 1992, the group & Shirtliff purchased a 20% shareholding in Butech Limited; which was finally bought out in 2000, becoming the Mombasa Branch of Davis & Shirtliff.
In 1993 they imported their first Linz pumps from Pedrollo, Italy.
In 1995 they introduced the 'Pump Centre' and the establishment of a countrywide range of dealers. 1995 also saw the opening of a Branch in Eldoret.
The business has recently expanded. Throughout the first decade of the millennium, Davis & Shirtliff opened branches and subsidiaries in Lusaka; Kigali; Nakuru[2] and Arusha; Zanzibar and Kitwe; Malindi; Addis Ababa, Mwanza and Diani;, Juba; and Mbeya in, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2021 respectively, thereby expanding the distribution of its products and its consumer base. In 2001, Davis & Shirtliff was appointed the regional distributor for Pedrollo Pumps. In 2003, the firm's solar division was established as a regional distributor for Shell Solar. Also, in 2004, it became a Certikin distributor and, in 2005, was appointed as a Lister Petter engine generator distributor for the region.
Community work
The company assists needy institutions to obtain water supplies. Funding for community activities is largely provided through an annual contribution from the company and its staff. Business partners are also involved and Grundfos has been supportive of the group’s activities through the donation of money, equipment and supplies.[3]
Davis and Shirtliff has also partnered with Kenya Airways on a water project in Runana.[4]
