Nairobi residents to experience water shortage

A section of Nairobi residents will go without water between Thursday and Friday as a result of the shut down of a water supply pipeline along Waiyaki Way at the Kabete Water Treatment Plant. Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited said the supply interruption is a result of the ongoing construction of the Nairobi Expressway. Affected areas include MP Shah Hospital, Sarit Centre, and surrounding estates along Waiyaki Way, Rhapta Road, Parklands Road, Mpaka Road, Chiromo Lane, Manyani, and Church Roads. Others are Highridge and Westlands areas, Muguga Green Estate, Nairobi School, and Kabete Barracks. According to Nairobi Water Managing Director Engineer Nahashon Muguna, the shutdown will facilitate the interconnection of a relocated pipeline to the old pipeline along Waiyaki Way from the old Safaricom Building to the junction of Waiyaki Way and Prof Wangari Maathai Road. “We appeal to our customers for indulgence and also urge them to use available water sparingly as we work towards restoring the supply,” he said. Last month, a similar water supply interruption lasted three days due to shut down of the Dagoretti and Uthiru water pumps. The water supply interruption mostly affected the western parts of the capital as the urban utility form installed suction mains and delivery headers at the Dagoretti and Uthiru pumps at the Kabete pumping station. This year alone, city residents have had to endure at least four water supply interruptions by the urban water utility firm in February, May, June, and last month; all due to infrastructural upgrades. Nairobi has been experiencing water rationing since April 2017 forcing most residents to turn to water from boreholes or those supplied at exorbitant prices by water vendors. Only about 50 percent of Nairobi residents have direct access to piped water while the rest depend on water from kiosks, vendors, illegal connections, or from boreholes. But even those with direct access to piped water, only 40 percent of this lot receive water 24 hours per day with the rest for only 11 hours on average.