Nairobi Water unveils strategy to quench city’s thirst

File image of Nairobi Water offices

Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has put in place a comprehensive strategic plan to increase water supply in the city, reduce system losses and improve on customer care through digitization of the entire billing infrastructure.

Implementation of the strategic plan will see the capital city’s 5 million residents get safe and reliable water supply, even in the face of rapid growth in demand.

Due to increased operating costs and the urgent need to upgrade aging infrastructure however, NCWSC has proposed a review of water and sewerage tariffs for Nairobi.

Acting Managing Director Martin Nang’ole noted that Nairobi’s population, now above five million, continues to strain a system that is already operating beyond its intended capacity.

Beyond population growth, the city is also undergoing rapid urban densification. Several estates that were originally single-dwelling residential areas such as South B, South C, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Ngumba among others have transformed into high-rise, high-density developments.

This shift has significantly increased water demand and sewer load in areas where the underlying infrastructure was never designed to support such densities.

“The cost of water treatment, electricity, pipe materials and routine maintenance has increased significantly since the last tariff review in 2023. Without an updated tariff structure, the pace of essential upgrades, loss reduction efforts and service reliability improvements will be severely affected,” Mr. Nang’ole said.

He assured the public that additional revenue generated will be ring-fenced for infrastructure rehabilitation, efficiency improvements and expansion of equitable access to water.

As required by law, the proposal is currently undergoing review by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), which has scheduled a public participation forum on December 19 at Utalii Hotel to collect feedback from Nairobi residents, businesses and stakeholders.

“We welcome all views and concerns. This process is transparent, independently regulated, and focused on securing a more reliable and resilient water system for the city,” Mr. Nang’ole added.