Eastleigh residents decry ongoing water shortages, demand immediate action from Nairobi Water Company
The association said the situation has disrupted homes, businesses, and essential services, and called for immediate action to restore supply.
Eastleigh Residents Association has written to the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to protest the ongoing water shortages that have affected the area for most of the week. The association said the situation has disrupted homes, businesses, and essential services, and called for immediate action to restore supply.
In the letter addressed to the director of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, Interim Chairman of the Eastleigh Residents Association, Mohamed Ismail, said the shortage has had serious effects on daily life in the busy commercial estate.
More To Read
- Nairobi Water digitises services to curb losses, speed up billing
- Water crisis deepens in Iftin Ward, Garissa, as residents demand boreholes and water tanks to ease shortages
- Kenya, France partner to upgrade Nairobi’s ageing water pipelines
- How blocked drainage systems, open sewers threaten lives, businesses in Eastleigh
- Eastleigh, Westlands and Kilimani among 16 Nairobi estates to face two-day water disruption
- Nahashon Muguna resigns as Nairobi Water boss, Nangole named acting MD
He wrote that there has been an “acute water shortage in Eastleigh, which has had significant effects on the residents and businesses for the better part of this week.”
The letter was also copied to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, indicating the seriousness of the complaint and the need for county-level intervention if necessary.
Residents say the shortage began early in the week and has continued without clear communication from the water company.
Business owners have reported relying on vendors who supply water at higher prices, pushing up operational costs for hotels, shops, restaurants, and residential buildings.
Families have also struggled to access clean water for cooking, cleaning, and sanitation.
In the letter, the Eastleigh Residents Association appealed to Nairobi Water to move quickly to resolve the issue.
Mohamed Ismail stated in the letter that the association wishes “to appeal to your esteemed institution to immediately restore water services to safeguard public health, support economic activity and to ensure social well-being in Eastleigh.”
The association argues that the prolonged disruption has left thousands of people unable to meet basic needs, at a time when the neighbourhood continues to grow rapidly in population and commercial activity.
Eastleigh is one of Nairobi’s busiest hubs and hosts hundreds of businesses that rely on a steady water supply. Traders say the shortage has led to reduced customer traffic because some businesses cannot operate normally.
Residents also say that water vendors are now taking advantage of the shortage by increasing prices, which has made the situation harder for low-income families.
The Nairobi City County government has not yet issued an official statement on the current shortage, but local leaders have recently discussed long-term plans to improve supply in the area.
On Sunday, Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan said the water situation in Eastleigh may improve in the coming months because new water pipes linked to the affordable housing project in Shauri Moyo will pass through Eastleigh.
The MP said the new infrastructure is expected to increase flow once installation is completed.
Despite these plans, residents say they need immediate relief. Many have questioned why Eastleigh continues to experience frequent water shortages despite the large number of rate-paying households and businesses in the neighbourhood. Some also say the shortages have become more frequent over the past year, especially during maintenance work or bursts along key pipelines.
Top Stories Today
