Kenyan households will have uninterrupted water supply for the entirety of December after the Water Resources Authority (WRA) suspended disconnections for unpaid bills.
The move is aimed at reducing the strain on families during the holiday season, especially in areas long affected by irregular water supply. WRA confirmed that normal disconnection operations will restart on January 15, 2026.
Water shortages continue to be a serious problem, particularly in informal settlements in cities, where residents sometimes go days without water. In these communities, households often receive water only twice a week, forcing them to conserve and ration supplies carefully.
With limited options, many people turn to private vendors who charge inflated prices, a situation worsened by unscrupulous individuals prioritizing profits over access to essential water.
“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,” WRA Chairman Donald Murgor said.
He emphasized that Section 12 of the Water Act 2016 gives WRA the mandate to oversee the management, conservation, protection, and fair use of Kenya’s water resources. Central to this is the water-use permitting system, which ensures transparent, fair, and data-based allocation to legitimate users.
Despite these frameworks, violations are on the rise. WRA CEO Mohammed Shurie said recent months have seen a surge in illegal water extraction and failure to adhere to permit requirements.
“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,” he noted.
The authority has warned that private companies found flouting water regulations will face prosecution, while heads of government agencies will also be held responsible for breaches.
By suspending disconnections, WRA is providing households with much-needed relief during a period of scarcity and high water costs, while underscoring the importance of following Kenya’s water management laws.
