A section of Nairobi residents will go without water between Friday and Saturday as a result of an emergency shutdown of the Sasumua-Kabete pipeline.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) on Thursday announced the shutdown to facilitate repairs of major leaks along the pipeline which if not contained will lead to major landslides resulting to more damage to the pipeline.
“The shutdown will start on Friday, December 15 from 7am to Saturday, December 16 2023 at 7am,” the statement read.
Some of the areas set to be affected are areas along Waiyaki Way road, James Gichuru Road, Dennis Pritt Road, Ngong Road, Langata Road, Peponi Road, Kikuyu Road, Naivasha Road, Mbagathi and Riverside Drive.
Other areas include Lavington, Kilimani, Westlands, Parklands, Loresho, Kangemi, Uthiru, Karen, Kawangware and Ritura.
Areas in Lang’ata, Kibera, Dam Estate, Kileleshwa, Nyayo Highrise Kibera, Ngumo, Woodley Estates will also be affected.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to use their stored water sparingly during the period of interruption.
“We appeal to our customers for indulgence and also urge them to use available water sparingly as we work towards restoring the supply,” said Nairobi Water Managing Director Engineer Nahashon Muguna in a statement.
Nairobi has been experiencing water rationing since April 2017 forcing most residents to turn to borehole water or that which is supplied at exorbitant prices by 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 boreholes.
But even those with direct access to piped water, only 40 percent of this lot receive water 24 hours daily.
