City Hall Embarks On Project To End Water Shortage

The perennial water shortages experienced by Nairobi residents may be a thing of the past in the near future as the County Government of Nairobi embarks on a project to curb the menace.

Residents of Nairobi have had the water shortage problem for two years in a row after the rationing of the precious commodity started in April 2017, with some only getting water twice a week or going for several weeks without water.

According to Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), 790, 000 cubic meters supply of water is needed daily but only a maximum of 526, 000 cubic meters can be supplied.

NCWSC also said that while the needed water supply amount cannot be reached, every year the demand rises by 20,000 cubic meters.

The County Government’s multi-million project, which is set to begin on February 2020, will see that water pipes are installed from Kabete to South C, where the water will be stored in a 14-million-liter water tank which will act as a reservoir to serve all residents in the county.

Designs for the waterline are said to have been done and almost completed by Urban Water as they await the connection of pipes.

The perennial water shortages experienced by Nairobi residents may be a thing of the past in the near future as the County Government of Nairobi embarks on a project to curb the menace.

Residents of Nairobi have had the water shortage problem for two years in a row after the rationing of the precious commodity started in April 2017, with some only getting water twice a week or going for several weeks without water.

According to Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), 790, 000 cubic meters supply of water is needed daily but only a maximum of 526, 000 cubic meters can be supplied.

NCWSC also said that while the needed water supply amount cannot be reached, every year the demand rises by 20,000 cubic meters.

The County Government’s multi-million project, which is set to begin in February 2020, will see that water pipes are installed from Kabete to South C, where the water will be stored in a 14-million-liter water tank which will act as a reservoir to serve all residents in the county.

Designs for the waterline are said to have been done and almost completed by Urban Water as they await the connection of pipes.

According to the acting Managing Director of Urban Water, Nahashon Muguna, once the line design is completed, he will lead his team to work tirelessly to completion of work by December 2020.

“We have already started laying the line where we expect to fix the water pipes. Once it is done we shall not rest until we see that we finish the work by next year December,” said Muguna.

Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko said that following the complaints of lack of water by Nairobians his administration has partnered with the World Bank and the African Development Bank to help reduce the 250,000 cubic meters deficit.

Governor Sonko also said that his administration will give two water companies, Athi Water and Nairobi water 50 million shillings each so that Nairobi residents never lack water.

“We shall also allocate seven million shillings to each ward in the city just to make sure that residents get enough water supply,” said the Governor.

“We are also on the lookout for any cartels engaging in illegal supply. We have disconnected more than a thousand illegal water connections and arrested several people who have since been charged in court,” he added.

“We have already started laying the line where we expect to fix the water pipes. Once it is done we shall not rest until we see that we finish the work by next year December,” said Muguna.

Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko said that following the complaints of lack of water by Nairobians his administration has partnered with the World Bank and the African Development Bank to help reduce the 250,000 cubic meters deficit.

Governor Sonko also said that his administration will give two water companies, Athi Water and Nairobi water 50 million shillings each so that Nairobi residents never lack water.

“We shall also allocate seven million shillings to each ward in the city just to make sure that residents get enough water supply,” said the Governor.

“We are also on the lookout for any cartels engaging in illegal supply. We have disconnected more than a thousand illegal water connections and arrested several people who have since been charged in court,” he added.