The Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) has announced a scheduled five-day total shutdown of the Northern Collector Tunnel (NCT) Bulk Water System, a move that will significantly disrupt water supply to Nairobi and four neighbouring counties. The interruption is slated to begin on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 8:00 AM and is expected to conclude on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 8:00 AM.
According to a formal statement released by the Agency on Monday, the shutdown is a technical necessity to facilitate essential pipeline strengthening and ancillary works. These operations are part of a broader infrastructure optimization project targeting the new bulk water pipeline that connects Thika Dam to the Kigoro Treatment Works and the Gigiri Reservoir.
“The interruption will commence on Tuesday, 7th April 2026 at 8:00 AM, and will continue until Sunday, 12th April 2026 at 8:00 AM,” the AWWDA statement read. “During this period, the Agency will undertake pipeline strengthening and other ancillary works required to optimize operations of the new bulk water pipeline between Thika Dam, Kigoro Treatment Works and Gigiri Reservoir.”
The Northern Collector Tunnel is a critical piece of Kenya’s water infrastructure, supplying approximately 140 million liters of water daily. The upcoming maintenance will impact a vast network of consumers served by several major water and sewerage companies across Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a, Kajiado, and Machakos counties.
Key utility providers expected to experience supply disruptions include the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), Gatanga Water and Sanitation Company (GATAWASCO), and the Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company. Additionally, the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) Kenya and the Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company will be affected, potentially impacting industrial operations in the Athi River and Syokimau areas.
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AWWDA has advised residents, businesses, and essential institutions—including hospitals and schools—within the affected zones to store adequate water in advance. The Agency further urged consumers to exercise extreme caution and use available water sparingly throughout the 120-hour maintenance window.
The Northern Collector Tunnel project was designed to alleviate chronic water shortages in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area by diverting floodwater from the Maragua, Gikigie, and Irati rivers. However, the integration of such a high-capacity system requires periodic technical adjustments to ensure long-term structural integrity and prevent future pipe bursts under high pressure.
While appealing for patience, AWWDA officials noted that the works are vital for the sustainability of the regional water supply. Normalcy is expected to return gradually starting Sunday afternoon as the system is recharged and pressure builds up across the distribution lines.
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Local authorities in the affected counties have been briefed on the shutdown to coordinate emergency water trucking services for critical public facilities if necessary. Stakeholders in the manufacturing and hospitality sectors have expressed concerns over the duration of the outage, noting that five days of limited supply could pose significant logistical challenges for large-scale operations.
