Sakaja Proposes Penalties for Nairobi Residents Who Obstruct Water Meter Access

Nairobi County is initiating a series of reforms targeting water and electricity access, intending to curtail escalating revenue losses and improve service provision across residential areas. 

Governor Johnson Sakaja and Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir have separately outlined strategies designed to tackle long-standing inefficiencies within utility management, especially in densely populated and informal settlements.

Governor Sakaja, appearing before the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee on July 21, proposed penalties for residents obstructing access to water meters. He argued the move is vital for improving the billing accuracy and operational efficiency of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC). 

The utility has experienced considerable challenges with restricted access to meters located in private homes. Sakaja explained that meter readers frequently encounter locked gates and absent homeowners, while domestic workers are often instructed not to grant access. He said to the committee, "In some estates, our teams are denied access to meters. This is interfering with accurate billing and planning." 

He further noted that obstructing meter access intentionally contributes to significant revenue losses, undermining the utility's ability to plan effectively. To mitigate these challenges, the county government is exploring deploying smart water meters capable of remote reading. While these devices offer greater accuracy and eliminate the necessity for physical access, their high cost, approximately Ksh15,000 compared to Ksh3,500 for conventional meters, presents a financial challenge. 

Sakaja acknowledged that implementation would necessitate phased budgeting and prioritisation. In the interim, Nairobi Water is relocating meters to more accessible locations outside residential gates, simultaneously encouraging customers to self-report readings via SMS. This dual approach aims to diminish reliance on physical meter reading while cultivating greater consumer responsibility. 

Nahashon Muguna, Managing Director of NCWSC, revealed that approximately 15,000 of Nairobi’s 250,000 meters remain unread each month due to access issues, resulting in millions of shillings in lost revenue. The issue is compounded by unpaid bills from public institutions, particularly schools, where disconnection proves unviable as an enforcement measure. Despite these setbacks, Nairobi Water reported its highest-ever revenue collection in the last financial year, reaching Ksh11.7 billion. 

This represents a considerable increase from Ksh10.75 billion in 2023/2024 and Ksh9.46 billion in 2022/2023. While operational inefficiencies persist, broader reforms and improved collection mechanisms appear to be yielding results. Parallel to the water sector reforms, the Ministry of Energy is advancing a novel blueprint to streamline electricity distribution in congested urban areas. CS Chirchir, speaking on Spice FM, outlined plans for a bulk metering and billing system engineered to tackle illegal connections and enhance safety in high-density neighbourhoods.

Under the proposed model, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) would install a single master meter for an entire estate or apartment block. A designated individual or legally registered entity would serve as the primary account holder, responsible for redistributing electricity to individual households via sub-meters. This intermediary would collect payments from residents and remit a consolidated bill to KPLC.

Chirchir clarified, "This is in response to the unlawful connections, especially in built-up areas and neighbourhoods with high population intensity. We are coming up with a solution called bulk metering, where ordinarily in estates where it would be difficult enforcing compliance by KPLC personnel, we plan to implement bulk metering."

Chirchir referenced international examples where similar systems have proven effective, adding that the government remains committed to working with local authorities and community leaders to sensitise residents and facilitate implementation. The bulk metering system anticipates reducing power outages and fire hazards connected to unregulated connections, while concurrently improving revenue collection for KPLC. 

In informal settlements, where direct access by utility personnel is often hindered by security concerns and infrastructural limitations, the model offers a practical alternative.