Residents of Nairobi are bracing for a major five-day water supply interruption beginning April 6, following a planned shutdown of a key system to allow for critical infrastructure upgrades.
In a public notice, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company confirmed that the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) will temporarily shut down the Northern Collector Tunnel 1 (NCT1).
The shutdown is intended to facilitate essential works connecting the Kigoro Water Treatment Plant to the Gigiri and Kabete reservoirs—an upgrade expected to significantly improve long-term water supply reliability across the capital.
According to officials, the interruption will run from 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6, to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.
During this period, large parts of the city will be affected, including the Central Business District (CBD), Westlands, Lavington, Kilimani, Ngara, Kileleshwa, Kibera, the Industrial Area, and several surrounding estates.
Authorities have urged both residents and businesses to use available water sparingly and to store sufficient supplies ahead of the shutdown to cushion against the disruption.
Governor Johnson Sakaja acknowledged the inconvenience but stressed that the works are necessary to address Nairobi’s longstanding water challenges.
“We understand the disruption this will cause to residents and businesses, but these works are critical to securing Nairobi’s water future,” he said.
“Once completed, the upgrades will significantly enhance supply capacity and reliability across the city.”
He added that the county government is working to ensure the project is completed within schedule and that normal supply resumes promptly.
To mitigate the impact, authorities have indicated that water bowsers may be deployed to serve critical institutions such as hospitals and schools.
However, the shutdown comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with the ongoing March-to-May long rains, raising concerns over potential public health risks.
Experts warn that overwhelmed drainage and sewage systems during heavy rains could lead to contamination, as floodwaters mix with waste and pollute water sources. This increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
The situation is expected to be particularly challenging in informal settlements like Kibera and Mathare, where limited access to clean water may force residents to rely on contaminated floodwater for domestic use.
As the city prepares for the disruption, residents are being urged not only to conserve water but also to remain vigilant about hygiene and sanitation practices to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks during the shutdown period.
