Nairobi Water MD Reveals Challenges Faced During Meter Inspections
The Senate session aimed to address growing concerns over service efficiency, billing accuracy, and financial losses resulting from the unread meters.
Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director, Engineer Muguna. Photo/The Weekly Vision.
By Juliet Jerotich
Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director, Engineer Nahason Muguna, on Monday, July 21, 2025, appeared before the Senate in the company of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
He was questioned over the status of over 15,000 water meters in the city that have not been read or accounted for.
The Senate session aimed to address growing concerns over service efficiency, billing accuracy, and financial losses resulting from the unread meters.
During his presentation, Engineer Muguna outlined the day-to-day difficulties encountered by water company personnel while attempting to access residential properties for meter reading.
He said many field officers are met with hostility from homeowners, including being denied access, physically assaulted, or intimidated with aggressive dogs.
These incidents have disrupted operations and led to legal proceedings, as the agency has documented several cases of violence and obstruction.
“We make every effort to ensure all meters are read,” Muguna told senators. “But in some places, our staff are met with unleashed dogs or even attacked. We have documented evidence of these situations, and in several cases, they have ended up in court.”
The MD further explained that some residents deliberately interfere with water meters or create barriers that make access nearly impossible. In many homes, only domestic workers are present and are under strict orders not to engage with water officials.
“In such cases, the house help has instructions not to let anyone in. And even when our staff do enter, they’re often met with aggression or resistance,” he added.
To mitigate the challenge, the company has been leaving written notices requesting homeowners to open their gates at designated times. In some cases, they’ve tried moving the meters to external, more accessible locations.
Despite these measures, Engineer Muguna said the issue remains widespread—particularly in gated communities and private homes where resistance is more severe.
Governor Sakaja, who also addressed the Senate, called on lawmakers to introduce tougher penalties for those who obstruct public utility officers. He stressed that unless firm legal action is taken, disruptions to critical services like water supply will continue.
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