Why Residents Living In Two Nairobi Areas Won't Have Water For A Week

The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) on Friday, August 11 announced a scheduled water rationing exercise for Kibra and Lang'ata areas for a period of seven days.

A statement by the company seen by Viral Tea indicated that the decision to ration water supply temporarily was informed by challenges affecting water supply to the larger Lang'ata area due to illegal connections on its main water pipeline running along the Kabete-Lang'ata route.

NCWSC thus moved to reinforce the pipeline to secure it, a move that led to the disconnection of the illegal water connections, which will likely lead to a water crisis in the Kibra and Mugumoini wards within Lang'ata.

A photo of residents fetching water in Kibra, Nairobi. /STANDARD DIGITAL

"During this process, we have had to disconnect unauthorized connections serving the Kibera residents. We endeavour to complete all works by August 18, 2023," stated NCWSC in part.

The company on Friday directed water to Kibra in all directions to ensure that adequate water supply is available to the area.

"We have also deployed four tankers to give free water for the next 7 days until Friday, August 18, 2023, when we expect the normal water supply will have stabilized," added the statement.

In addition to the above measures and using the Equitable Water Distribution schedule, NCWSC announced that residents of Kibra and Mugumoini will receive water as stated below.

1. Lindi and Laini Saba wards - from Thursday 8.00 am to Friday 6.00 pm
2. Ngong road to Kabarnet Gardens road through Kibra Sub-county administration to Makina, the railway bridge area and Lindi area - Wednesday 8.00 am to Friday 8.00 am
3. Ngong Forest to Lang'ata estate women prisons area: this pipeline gives water to Kibra and all the estates in Lang'ata Mugumoini ward, the Mugumoini ward estates in Lang'ata -from Sunday 2.00 pm to Tuesday 6:00 am, Wednesday 6.00 am to Thursday 6:00 am, Friday 6.00 pm to Saturday 6.00 am.
4. Sarang'ombe ward- from Tuesday 6.00 am to Wednesday 6.00 am, Thursday 6:00 am to 6.00 pm and Saturday 6.00 am to Sunday 12.00 noon.

"In the meantime, we appeal to our customers who had meters connected in the chambers but removed to liaise with the Kibra Informal Settlement office for their water reconnection to the chambers," NCWSC advised.

The firm, while issuing apologies for any inconveniences the exercise might cause, urged its customers to use available water sparingly.

The development occurred amidst an ongoing water shortage in Nairobi County due to insufficient supply from the primary source, Ndakaini Dam.

The Managing Director of NCWSC recently addressed the Nairobi County Assembly Committee, highlighting that illegal connections are to blame for the increase in water shortages.

The company is therefore banking on the exercise to address these illegal connections, especially those serving car washing centres.

An attendant at work at a car wash centre. /TWITTER