Utawala, Mihango Residents Risk Disconnection As Nairobi Water Launches Crackdown
The utility announced a 21-day window for customers in the two estates to regularise their water and sewer connections
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Residents in Utawala and Mihango in Embakasi face fines and possible disconnection after the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) launched an intensified crackdown on illegal and unmetered water connections.
In a notice issued on Thursday, May 7, the utility announced a 21-day window for customers in the two estates to regularise their water and sewer connections, warning that enforcement will begin on May 28, 2026, immediately after the grace period expires.
The company said the exercise forms part of a compliance and metering drive targeting unmetered connections in Upper Embakasi. This area has experienced rapid population growth and rising cases of illegal water tapping.
Nairobi Water offices. /FILE
“Nairobi Water is undertaking a compliance and metering exercise in Utawala & Mihango areas,” the notice read.
“All customers with unmetered connections are granted a 21-day grace period ending Close of Business, 28th May 2026, to regularize their water and/or sewer connections.”
The utility warned that customers who fail to comply within the stipulated period will face strict enforcement measures, including substantial penalties and service disruption.
Domestic users found with illegal connections will be fined Ksh30,000, while commercial consumers risk penalties of up to Ksh100,000.
In addition, affected customers will be required to pay estimated consumption charges dating back to October 2024.
The company further cautioned that non-compliant households and businesses could be disconnected from the main supply line. Reconnection will attract a Ksh5,000 fee and require payment of a double deposit. Where applicable, sewer disconnection will cost Ksh15,000.
“Failure to comply within the grace period will attract enforcement action without further notice,” the notice stated.
Residents have been advised to regularise their accounts through Nairobi Water’s online portal or visit designated customer care centres, including the Shujaa Mall offices along Kayole Spine Road, ahead of the deadline to avoid penalties.
The crackdown comes amid heightened efforts by the utility to curb non-revenue water losses and improve service efficiency in rapidly expanding residential zones.
Utawala and Mihango have, in recent years, recorded significant growth in housing developments, putting pressure on existing water infrastructure and enforcement systems.
Nairobi Water has intensified compliance operations as part of a broader strategy to eliminate illegal connections, improve billing accuracy, and enhance accountability across the city’s water distribution network.
The move also aligns with the company’s ongoing plan to roll out smart metering technology across Nairobi, aimed at improving monitoring and reducing water losses.
The project, estimated to cost up to Ksh2.57 billion, will be financed through the 2025/2026 to 2028/2029 tariff structure approved by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB).
Under the programme, smart meters will enable real-time monitoring and transmission of consumption data to a central system through GSM, LoRaWAN, or NB-IoT networks.
As enforcement deadlines approach, affected residents now face the choice of regularising their connections or risking penalties, disconnection, and accumulated charges.
