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The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC), the primary water service provider for Kenya’s capital, is grappling with a debt exceeding Sh 4 billion due to non-payment by various water users, including several government agencies.
CEO Nahashon Muguna highlighted that the company’s operations are significantly hindered by debtors, including Kiambu County water service providers, which collectively owe NWSC Sh 267 million. Additionally, the Nairobi City government itself owes about Sh 500,000. Public learning institutions contribute another Sh 160 million in unpaid bills, with these debts accumulating over several years and severely affecting the company’s ability to function efficiently.
Private water users in the city have also delayed payments, further crippling NWSC’s expansion efforts. The company is responsible for delivering clean water and sewerage services to approximately 4.39 million residents, a number that continues to grow due to increased rural-urban migration.
Appearing before the Nairobi County Assembly Water Committee, Muguna emphasized that resolving the debt issue requires political intervention. “If these institutions were paying, things would be easier for us. We cannot disconnect Kiambu from accessing water because all our pipes pass through the county. This requires a political solution, and politicians in Nairobi should engage their counterparts in Kiambu to resolve the issue,” Muguna stated.
He also stressed the necessity for the Nairobi City County government to settle its debts to enable NWSC to provide and expand essential services, including upgrading sewerage systems.
Despite these financial challenges, Muguna assured that NWSC would continue uninterrupted water services. The company is also seeking a Sh 100 billion loan from the South Korean government to fund the second phase of the Northern Water Collector project.
During his address to the committee led by Highrise MCA Kennedy Oyugi, Muguna called on the Ministry of Education to increase the capitation per student to help educational institutions manage their water debts.
