Ali Sheikh
Nairobi.
Residents and business owners in Eastleigh are calling for urgent intervention from the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company after a week-long water shortage that has disrupted daily life in the busy commercial district.
In a formal letter to the utility’s director, the Eastleigh Residents Association said the outage has severely affected public health, livelihoods, and essential services.
Thousands of households, hotels, shops, restaurants, and residential buildings have gone without running water since early last week, leaving many to rely on private vendors charging steep prices. Low-income families have been hit especially hard, struggling to afford clean water for cooking, cleaning, and sanitation.
According to the association, such interruptions have become increasingly common over the past year, often blamed on pipeline bursts or maintenance issues. However, the latest cut came without prior notice or explanation.
Interim chairman Mohamed Ismail decried the “acute water shortage in Eastleigh” and appealed for immediate restoration of services “to safeguard public health, support economic activity, and ensure social well-being.”
He noted the irony of rate-paying residents and businesses contributing significantly to the utility’s revenue while enduring unreliable supply.
The outcry mirrors frustrations raised last week by property developers, who—while celebrating a High Court ruling against county overreach—also highlighted the rising cost of buying water in bulk for construction sites and buildings.
Members of the Property Developers Welfare Society of Nairobi linked the shortages to project delays and mounting operational expenses.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan offered some reassurance on Sunday, saying new pipelines being installed through the Shauri Moyo affordable housing project will boost water flow into Eastleigh once complete.
“There are new pipes being constructed… they will pass through Eastleigh, and you will get water from it,” he told residents.
As of Monday evening, neither the Nairobi City County government nor the water company had issued a response. The association warned it may escalate its actions if supply is not restored promptly.
For Eastleigh, the ongoing shortage threatens not just convenience but the economic lifeblood of one of the capital’s busiest commercial hubs.