Why Nairobi Water is pushing for increased water bills
Nairobi
By
Brian Ngugi
| Dec 20, 2025
Nairobi's water utility has proposed a tariff increase to fund a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at providing reliable water to the city's more than five million residents, who are battling frequent shortages amid rapid population growth.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) said additional revenue from the proposed review would be ring-fenced to rehabilitate ageing pipes, reduce system losses, and expand coverage, addressing a supply crisis worsened by urban densification.
"The cost of water treatment, electricity, pipe materials and routine maintenance has increased significantly since the last tariff review in 2023," said Acting Managing Director Martin Nang'ole. "Without an updated tariff structure, the pace of essential upgrades, loss reduction efforts and service reliability improvements will be severely affected."
The utility's strategy hinges on a significant capital investment to modernise a network strained beyond its original capacity. Residential areas like Kilimani and Kileleshwa, once low-density, are now dominated by high-rise buildings, placing unprecedented demand on old water and sewer lines never designed for such a load.
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Nang'ole assured customers that the planned investments would directly translate to measurable service improvements, including more consistent water pressure, reduced leakage, and fairer access across neighbourhoods. A key pillar of the plan is the full digitisation of customer billing and management systems to improve efficiency and transparency.
The proposed adjustment is currently under review by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), which will hold a public participation forum on December 19 to gather stakeholder feedback, as required by Kenyan law.
"We welcome all views and concerns," Nang'ole said. "This process is transparent, independently regulated, and focused on securing a more reliable and resilient water system for the city."
The move highlights the financial challenges facing African utilities as they race to upgrade colonial-era infrastructure amid swift urbanisation and climate change pressures. Success in Nairobi could offer a model for other major cities on the continent.