A number of government offices are set to operate without water after the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) made good on its threat to commence a widespread water disconnection exercise targeting defaulters in Nairobi.
On Wednesday, October 15, NCWSC announced that technicians had embarked on a disconnection exercise, which spans across all categories of consumers in what is one of the most aggressive debt recovery actions by the company in recent years.
In a statement, the utility company reiterated that no entity would be spared, including Ministries, county offices, businesses and households.
"In a decisive effort to address chronic non-payment and ensure financial sustainability, the Nairobi Water Company, Central Region team carried out a targeted mass water disconnection exercise at defaulters' premises," the utility company said in a statement.
"This ongoing operation is aimed at recovering overdue arrears totalling Ksh 43,792,000, underscoring the company’s commitment to enforcing accountability across all consumers."
The exercise follows a public notice issued a day earlier, warning consumers that services would be cut off if outstanding bills remained unpaid.
While disconnections at residential and commercial premises are not new, the inclusion of government institutions in the crackdown marked a unique shift in the company's enforcement measures.
As of October 2025, a considerable number of accounts across the city remained in default despite repeated notices and engagement efforts aimed at encouraging payments.
Demand for water in the city continues to rise due to rapid population growth and urban expansion, with NCWSC under pressure to increase supply and upgrade systems.
In July, Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja was at pains to explain mitigation measures before the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee, as he highlighted one key challenge in billing customers was the inability to access some homes.
“In some estates, our teams are denied access to meters. This is interfering with accurate billing and planning,” Sakaja lamented as he announced plans to introduce penalties on unscrupulous customers.
To further address the issue long-term, the governor also revealed that his government was exploring smart water meters, which offer better accuracy and remote reading capabilities.
