NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi residents will no longer have to second-guess when taps will run dry, after the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) unveiled a new digital platform that shows scheduled water supply days across the city.
The service, launched on Thursday, introduces an “Equitable Water Distribution Schedule” that households, businesses, and institutions can now access through Nairobi Water’s website.
Officials say the move will improve planning, reduce wastage, and help residents manage consumption more efficiently.
Governor Johnson Sakaja hailed the platform as a major step toward transparency in water service delivery.
“We want residents to know exactly when they will get water so they can plan accordingly,” he said.
The development comes against a backdrop of persistent challenges in Nairobi’s water sector, particularly massive losses from illegal connections.
County data shows that of the 560,000 cubic metres of water pumped daily, nearly 300,000 cubic metres are lost to water theft and leakages.
In July, Sakaja told the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee that illegal connections and restricted meter access continue to undermine revenue collection.
He proposed stiffer penalties for residents who block meter readers, saying such actions frustrate service delivery.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has previously flagged Nairobi Water for high levels of “non-revenue water.”
In 2020, the utility produced 176.04 million cubic metres but billed just 86.35 million cubic metres, losing more than half through theft and wastage.
In 2023 alone, the Lang’ata pipeline recorded at least 130 illegal connections serving estates such as High Rise, Ngei, and parts of Kibera.
By digitising its water distribution schedule, Nairobi Water hopes to empower residents with reliable information, curb dependence on informal sources, and strengthen accountability in the city’s strained water system.
