Kamukunji set for major water supply upgrade as MP Yusuf Hassan meets Athi Water officials
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan says Athi Water will replace ageing water mains with 15km of larger HDPE pipes in Eastleigh North and Airbase from January 2026 to ease chronic shortages.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has announced that the Athi Water Works Development Agency has agreed to replace old asbestos-cement water mains that have served the area for decades. He said the agency plans to install new high-density polyethene pipes, which are larger and more durable.
He added that the first phase of the project will cover Eastleigh North, Airbase area and California, where 15 kilometres of new pipes are expected to be laid. According to the MP, the work is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
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The MP revealed this after he held a meeting with the Athi Water Works Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kamau, alongside engineers from the agency, to discuss plans to improve water supply in the constituency.
The meeting focused on how to accelerate projects intended to increase the amount of water reaching homes and businesses in Eastleigh and the wider Kamukunji area.
The map of the areas where the pipes will be replaced. (Photo: Handout)
Eastleigh and other parts of Kamukunji have experienced chronic water shortages for many years, severely affecting residents’ daily lives.
Little or no water
Many households receive little or no water from the main supply, forcing families to rely on water bought from water boozers. The water sold by these vendors is expensive, and residents say it is still insufficient to meet their needs.
The shortages have also disrupted businesses, schools, health facilities and apartment blocks, all of which depend on a reliable water supply.
Yusuf said the project is expected to improve hydraulic efficiency and the quality of water reaching the neighbourhoods.
“When completed, it will substantially improve the hydraulic efficiency and the quality of water in the two neighbourhoods,” he said.
He explained that the project forms part of a broader plan to upgrade water infrastructure across Kamukunji and said the agency had shown commitment to supporting the constituency.
Steps to move projects forward
The Athi Water CEO said the agency understands the seriousness of the water shortages facing Eastleigh and other parts of Kamukunji. He said the meeting with the MP was important because it allowed both sides to agree on steps to move the projects forward.
“The discussions aimed to fast-track the implementation of key projects to improve water supply for the area,” he said.
Concerns about the shortages have recently increased in Eastleigh and were clearly outlined in a letter dated November 17 from the Eastleigh Residents Association.
The letter, addressed to the director of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, said water had been unavailable in many parts of Eastleigh for so long that it had disrupted homes, markets, schools and other essential services.
The water crisis was also raised earlier in the year when President William Ruto visited Eastleigh in March. During the visit, the President said the completion of the Northern Collector Tunnel would increase Nairobi’s water supply by 140 million litres per day. He said the additional supply should improve access in Eastleigh and other areas.
However, residents say the situation has not changed since the visit. Many buildings still go for long periods without piped water, and families continue to rely on water boozers, with the cost remaining a heavy burden.
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