5 Days, No Water: Nairobi Estates Brace for Major Shutdown as Supply System Goes Offline”
By Eugene Otieno
The interruption, which began at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, is scheduled to run until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The shutdown targets the critical Northern Collector Tunnel 1 (NCT1) system, a key component in Nairobi’s water distribution network.
According to AWWDA, the temporary halt is necessary to facilitate the completion of essential infrastructure works, including the connection of the Kigoro Water Treatment Plant to the Gigiri and Kabete reservoirs. The upgrades are expected to significantly improve water supply efficiency and reliability once completed.
In its official notice, the agency stated that the move is aimed at operationalising and conclusively finalising all contractual works tied to the project. While acknowledging the inconvenience, AWWDA emphasized that the long-term gains will outweigh the temporary disruption.
“We appeal to our customers for indulgence and urge them to use the available water sparingly as we work towards restoring the supply,” the agency said.
Areas Affected
The shutdown will impact multiple neighbourhoods and key institutions across Nairobi, grouped as follows:
1. Westlands, Lavington, and Kileleshwa Zones
Residents in areas such as Riverside, Parklands, and parts of Lavington—including Gitanga Road, Riara Road, and Ole Ndume Road—will be affected. Kileleshwa neighbourhoods along Kandara, Othaya, and Githunguri roads will also experience outages.
2. Kilimani, Hurlingham, and Upper Hill Areas
Estates along Argwings Kodhek Road, Hurlingham, and Denis Pritt Road are set to face water shortages. Institutions including Daystar University and Coptic Hospital will also be impacted.
In Upper Hill, critical facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Kenya Medical Research Institute offices are expected to experience disruptions.
Advisory to Residents
Residents and institutions are advised to store adequate water, practice conservation, and plan accordingly during the outage period. Water service providers and authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely to ensure a smooth restoration once the works are complete.
The planned shutdown underscores ongoing efforts to modernize Nairobi’s water infrastructure—an investment officials say will deliver more reliable and efficient supply in the future.
