Residents and businesses across large parts of Nairobi have been told to store water before a three-day shutdown that begins on Monday night. Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) is carrying out emergency repairs on a major supply line.

In a public notice issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) said supply from the NCT-Kigoro-Gigiri-Kabete pipeline will be cut from 11.59pm on Monday, October 26, to 11.59pm on Thursday, October 29.

"The shutdown is necessary to allow emergency repair works of the pipeline," the company said in the notice, adding: "We appeal to our customers for indulgence and urge them to use their available water sparingly."

The utility did not say what damage the pipeline has suffered or what exactly the repairs involve.

Hospitals, embassies and an airport affected

The outage covers some of the capital's busiest residential, commercial and institutional zones. Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Hospital in Upper Hill are on the list, as are Wilson Airport, the City Mortuary, the UNEP offices and the US Embassy in Gigiri.

The affected areas listed in the notice, as reported by The Star and Kenyans.co.ke, include:

Westlands and environs: Riverside, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Westlands Road, Ring Road, Muthithi Road, Chiromo Lane, Mpaka Road, Westlands Avenue, Sports Road, Upper Brookside, Brookside Gardens, Muguga Green, lower Waiyaki Way and parts of General Mathenge Road, Peponi Road and Lower Kabete Lane.

Parklands and Ngara: Parklands Roads 1 to 5, Highridge, Suswa Road, Iregi Road, Kusi Lane, parts of Limuru Road, Park Road, City Park, Desai Road, Railway Quarters, Forest Road, Kipande Road, Jamhuri High School and Muchai Drive.

Kabarsiran and Lantana: Lower Kabarsiran, Kabarsiran Close, Manyani East and West, parts of James Gichuru Road, Waruku, Lower East Church Road, Lower Raphta Road and Upper Lantana Road.

Lang'ata and Karen: Uhuru Gardens, Southlands, Karen, Mbagathi Way, Civil Servants estates, Park 1 and 2, Sunvalley, Royal Park, Moi Lang'ata Barracks, Kibera and Woodley, as well as customers served by the Oloolaiser Water and Sanitation Company.

Nairobi West: Madaraka, Hima Gardens, Siwaka, Midland, Quick Estate, Wilson Airport, KEBS, NEMA and Popo Road.

How to prepare

Nairobi Water has asked customers in these areas to fill tanks and containers before the shutdown starts and to use water sparingly until supply is restored. Supply in some areas on higher ground may take longer to return after Thursday night, because pipes have to refill and pressure has to build up.

Hospitals, schools and other institutions on the list are expected to depend on storage tanks and water bowsers during the outage. Households without enough storage may have to buy from vendors, who often raise prices during long interruptions.

Pressure on an already stretched system

The shutdown comes as Nairobi goes through a spell of unusually hot weather, which tends to push up household water use. The city's demand has long been higher than the volume the utility can supply. Many estates already get water on rationing schedules, and even short interruptions on trunk lines are felt widely.

Customers who are unsure whether their estate is affected have been advised to check the official notice on Nairobi Water's social media pages or call its customer care lines.

Photos: Business Today, Kenyans.co.ke