Nairobi Water reports record revenue of Sh11.7 billion, but unpaid bills and restricted meter access remain key challenges.
NAIROBI, Kenya July 21 –Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for penalties against residents who deny meter readers access to their water meters, as the county seeks to curb revenue losses from unread meters.
Appearing before the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee, Sakaja acknowledged that roughly 15,000 out of Nairobi’s 250,000 water meters go unread monthly due to homeowners or domestic workers refusing entry.
“We are sensitizing customers on self-meter reading via SMS and relocating meters outside gates for easier access. But we are also considering penalties for those deliberately obstructing meter readers,” Sakaja stated.
Nairobi Water Managing Director Eng. Nahashon Muguna supported the proposal, revealing that smart meters, though more accurate, are five times costlier than conventional ones, posing a financial challenge for widespread adoption.
The utility also faces unpaid bills, particularly from public institutions like schools, where disconnections are often avoided despite mounting arrears.
Despite these hurdles, Nairobi Water reported a historic revenue of Sh11.7 billion for 2024/2025, up from Sh10.75 billion the previous year—a growth attributed to tighter revenue management under Sakaja’s administration.
Senators, however, warned that uncollected bills and unread meters risk undermining the city’s financial health, urging further action to seal revenue loopholes.
