WRA suspends water disconnections in December amid holiday season

Kenyans to enjoy the holiday season without worrying about water interruptions. The authority said normal disconnection procedures will resume from January 15, 2026.

Water scarcity remains a persistent challenge for many urban residents, particularly in informal settlements, where taps often run dry for days.

Residents in these areas typically receive water only twice a week, forcing households to ration and maximize their limited supplies.

Recent investigations reveal that a network of rogue politicians and opportunistic businessmen has worsened the situation, prioritizing profits over public access to water.

Many residents are reportedly forced to buy water from private suppliers at inflated prices due to lack of alternatives.

According to WRA, these illegal practices tend to peak in December. The authority stressed that such activities contravene existing policies governing equitable water supply to communities.

“The Water Resources Authority (WRA) wishes to notify the public and all water users of a growing trend of non-compliance with the Water Act 2016 and the Water Resources Regulations 2025, an issue that poses a serious threat to the sustainable management of Kenya’s water resources,” said Donald Murgor, WRA Chairman.

Murgor emphasized that under Section 12 of the Water Act 2016, WRA is mandated to regulate the management, protection, conservation, and equitable use of the country’s water resources. Central to this mandate is a water-use permitting system, which ensures transparency, fairness, and data-driven allocation of water to legitimate users.

Despite these regulations, violations have become increasingly common. Mohammed Shurie, WRA Chief Executive Officer, said: “Recent months have seen a significant rise in illegal water abstraction and failure to obtain or comply with water-use permits.

Alarmingly, some political actors have incited non-compliance, including a recent incident in Kieni, Nyeri County, where abstractors were urged to ignore lawful WRA directives. Claims of equipment vandalism are unfounded.”