On Wednesday, February 28, the Nairobi County Government announced the commencement of mass water disconnections across the capital.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), responsible for providing and managing water and sewerage services in Nairobi, stated that this action was being taken due to pending bills.
With a significant accumulation of overdue water bills, Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration highlighted that it had been compelled to take drastic action.
“We urge you to clear your outstanding water bill to avoid service interruptions,” Nairobi residents were warned.
Through photos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Nairobi Water staff could be seen in different parts of the city cutting the water supply.
Those affected were urged to dial *888# and follow the prompts to clear their overdue bills.
The mass disconnection is expected to affect thousands of households within Nairobi and parts of Kiambu and Kajiado counties.
According to NCWSC, 76 per cent of Nairobi households have access to the county-provided water connection.
This translates to a population of close to six million who depend on the county for the provision of clean water for domestic use.
While NCWSC provides the water and manages the billing process, the development of water infrastructure is overseen by the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA).
The disconnections occurred at a time when the County Government had raised water prices for its residents.
This decision came after the National Government announced in June 2023 that it would impose charges on Nairobi County for the water it supplies to its residents.
