Nairobi residents are set to receive an additional 140 million liters of water in the coming weeks with the commissioning of the Northern Collector Tunnel.
Governor Johnson Sakaja announced that his administration is taking steps to address the chronic water shortages in the capital. Speaking at the opening of a three-day innovation event at the University of Nairobi, Governor Sakaja stated that plans are underway to increase water supply to the city. Currently, Nairobi’s water demand is 900 million liters per day, while the supply stands at 525 million liters per day.
“The first source of water, Kikuyu Springs, which produces about 6,000 cubic meters of water, was developed between 1904 and 1910. Later, the water infrastructure expanded to include the Ruiru and Sasumua dams, which could not supply adequate water for city residents.
“Ndakaini Dam, which provides Nairobians with 84% of their water, was developed to supply 525 million litres daily, but that is not enough. We need 900 million litres daily,” he said.
Sakaja added that residents should expect water shortages during the planned connection of the Gigiri reservoir and Kigoro to tap an additional 140 million litres into the existing water distribution network, reducing the deficit by almost half.
“Nairobi will receive 140 million litres of water daily from the Northern Collector Tunnel I,” he said.
The project consists of a tunnel, a treatment facility, and a pipeline linking the latter to Nairobi’s Gigiri reservoir.
Water will be channelled into Ndakaini Dam through the tunnel from the Gikigie, Irati, and Mathioya rivers. The French Development Agency funded the 11.8-kilometre tunnel.
“We have secured 100 million euros for Nairobi through the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to develop the Northern Collector Tunnel II and Maragua IV,” said Governor Sakaja.
The Northern Collector Tunnel I project will add 140 million liters of water per day to Nairobi’s existing water distribution network, nearly halving the current water deficit. Governor Sakaja mentioned that residents, who currently receive clean water twice a week, will have access four times a week once the tunnel is completed.
Sakaja also urged the younger generation, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, to focus on improving water distribution systems and developing logistics solutions that can easily detect pipe blockages and water wastage. “I challenge young people to create innovative ideas for water distribution networks and logistics to prevent water wastage. There’s a market waiting for you,” he said.
Water and sanitation in Nairobi face challenges typical of rapidly growing cities in the developing world, where water supply struggles to keep up with increasing demand. Even those with direct access to tapped water experience unreliable service.
