Residents and businesses in Utawala and Mihango, located in Nairobi’s Upper Embakasi area, are racing against time to comply with a directive issued by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company requiring all unmetered water and sewer connections to be regularised by May 28, 2026.
In a public notice, the utility company warned that customers who fail to meet the deadline will face hefty penalties and immediate enforcement measures aimed at curbing illegal water usage.
According to Nairobi Water, the ongoing compliance and metering exercise seeks to address illegal connections, improve revenue collection, and ensure accurate billing in the rapidly expanding residential areas.
“Nairobi Water is undertaking a compliance and metering exercise in the Utawala and Mihango areas. All customers with unmetered connections are granted a 21-day grace period ending 28th May 2026 to regularise their water and/or sewer connections,” the company stated.
The firm further noted that non-compliant customers will be subjected to significant fines after the expiry of the grace period. Domestic users found with illegal or unmetered connections risk a penalty of KSh 30,000, while commercial users could face fines of up to KSh 100,000.
In addition to the penalties, affected customers will be required to pay backdated water consumption charges dating from October 2024, based on estimated usage.
Nairobi Water also warned that illegal connections may be disconnected, with customers required to pay a reconnection fee of KSh 5,000 alongside double deposit charges. Sewer service disconnections, where applicable, will attract an additional cost of KSh 15,000.
The crackdown is part of the company’s broader efforts to digitise services, reduce non-revenue water losses, and strengthen accountability in water distribution across Nairobi County.
Rapid urban growth in peri-urban estates such as Utawala and Mihango has reportedly contributed to increased cases of unregulated water connections, leading to substantial revenue losses for the utility provider.
To ease the compliance process, Nairobi Water has encouraged customers to apply for regularisation through its online portal. Residents can also seek assistance physically at the Shujaa Mall offices along Kayole Spine Road or contact the Upper Embakasi office through official communication channels for support.
