Kenyans get December water relief as agency suspends all disconnections
The Water Resources Authority has suspended water disconnections for unpaid bills across Kenya until January 15, 2026, offering December relief as it cracks down on illegal abstraction and non-compliance.
Kenyans will enjoy an uninterrupted water supply throughout December after the Water Resources Authority (WRA) suspended all disconnections for unpaid bills.
The authority said the move is intended to ease pressure on households during the festive season, particularly in areas where water scarcity has long been a challenge.
More To Read
- Eastleigh residents decry ongoing water shortages, demand immediate action from Nairobi Water Company
- Water crisis deepens in Iftin Ward, Garissa, as residents demand boreholes and water tanks to ease shortages
- Runda residents stage protest over controversial luxury housing project
- Eastleigh, Westlands and Kilimani among 16 Nairobi estates to face two-day water disruption
- Relief for residents as Coast Development Authority rolls out water project in Garissa
- Sh438 million water agency loan default piles pressure on taxpayers eight years on, Auditor General warns
WRA confirmed that normal disconnection procedures will resume on January 15, 2026.
Water shortages remain a persistent issue, especially in urban informal settlements where taps can run dry for days at a time. Residents in these areas often receive water only twice a week, forcing households to ration and stretch their limited supplies.
Recent investigations have revealed that a network of rogue politicians and opportunistic businessmen has exacerbated the crisis by prioritising profit over public access. With no reliable alternatives, many residents are reportedly compelled to buy water from private vendors at inflated prices.
WRA noted that such illegal practices typically peak in December and contravene existing policies on equitable water distribution.
“The Water Resources Authority (WRA) wishes to notify the public and all water users of a growing trend of non-compliance with the Water Act 2016 and the Water Resources Regulations 2025, an issue that poses a serious threat to the sustainable management of Kenya’s water resources,” WRA Chairman Donald Murgor said.
Murgor stressed that under Section 12 of the Water Act 2016, WRA is mandated to regulate the management, protection, conservation and equitable use of the country’s water resources. Central to this mandate is a water-use permitting system, designed to uphold transparency, fairness and data-driven allocation of water to legitimate users.
Despite these regulations, violations have become increasingly common. WRA CEO Mohammed Shurie said recent months have seen a notable rise in illegal water abstraction and a failure to obtain or comply with water-use permits.
“Alarmingly, some political actors have incited non-compliance, including a recent incident in Kieni, Nyeri County, where abstractors were urged to ignore lawful WRA directives. Claims of equipment vandalism are unfounded,” he said.
The authority warned that private entities found violating permit regulations will face prosecution. Government institutions will also be held to account, with department heads or managing directors liable for breaches of the Water Resources Regulations.
WRA’s decision comes at a critical moment, offering temporary relief to households grappling with both scarcity and rising water costs, while underscoring the urgent need for full compliance with water management laws.
Top Stories Today
