1,000 Illegal water connections destroyed in Nairobi, Water PS says

The government has for the last three months dismantled 1,000 illegal water connections in Nairobi.

Water Principal Secretary Dr Kipronoh Ronoh said the city still has more demand for water as each year a total of 22 billion cubic metres is required in the capital city. He said that out of this, 3.6 cubic meters is lost.

Ronoh said that the government has been losing Sh10.5 billion annually in revenue as a result of water loss.

He spoke on Tuesday outside Maji House when he flagged off 10 vehicles to be used by the Water Police Unit to fight illegal water connections.

The beneficiaries of the 10 vehicles and water detection equipment are Lake Victoria water works, North Rift water works, Central rift water works, Northern water works, Athiwater works, Tanathi water works, Lake Victoria south water works, Coast water works and Nairobi region, which falls under Athi water works

Ronoh added that the officers had also been provided with high-tech equipment to detect water leakage and identify water destroyers.

PS disclosed that 15 people suspected to have been involved in the connection of illegal water were arrested in Nairobi and charged in court and four of them pleaded guilty and were fined Sh170, 000.

Two of those arrested and charged, Ronoh said, are awaiting a determination of their case after pleading not guilty.

Ronoh said cases are still going on for nine of them.