Pipeline Project to Boost Water Supply for 3 Million Nairobi Residents
By Editorial Team
Nairobi, March 6, 2026 — The Athi Water Works Development Agency has received a Special User License from the Kenya Forest Service to begin construction of the Gigiri–Karura–Outer Ring Road Transmission Pipeline Project, a major infrastructure plan expected to improve water supply for millions of residents in Nairobi.
The licence allows controlled access for an underground section of the pipeline passing through Karura Forest. Authorities say the work will follow strict environmental and forest conservation regulations.
The project, funded by the Government of Kenya and the French Development Agency, aims to strengthen water transmission capacity across eastern parts of the city. Once completed, the 8.4-kilometre pipeline will deliver an additional 211 million litres of water per day to targeted areas.
Officials say the project will help meet a projected demand of about 370 million litres daily and support more than three million residents as the city’s population continues to grow.
Rapid urban expansion in Nairobi has placed heavy pressure on water infrastructure. Current demand already exceeds supply, prompting the government to invest in major transmission systems to modernise distribution and ensure more reliable access to water.
The DN1400 transmission line will run from the Gigiri Reservoir to the Karura Reservoir before extending to Outer Ring Road. About three kilometres of the Gigiri–Karura section will be installed underground along an existing cycle track corridor within Karura Forest, stretching from Whispers Avenue to Kiambu Road near Gate C.
Project planners say the design intentionally uses an existing cleared corridor to minimise environmental disruption and protect undisturbed forest areas. Vegetation clearance will be limited and any trees removed will be replaced in line with guidelines from the Kenya Forest Service. Restoration work will be done in partnership with the Friends of Karura Forest.
Construction within the forest is expected to take about four months. After the work is completed, the affected areas will be restored according to approved environmental management plans.
The project also underwent a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and guidelines from the National Environment Management Authority. Public consultations were conducted with community members, conservation groups, and nearby residents before approvals were granted.
Speaking after the approval, AWWDA Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kamau said the project is a crucial step in strengthening Nairobi’s water resilience.
“This transmission upgrade is a strategic intervention to improve bulk water conveyance and ensure reliable supply to eastern Nairobi as demand continues to grow,” he said.
Kamau added that the agency had carefully designed the project to protect the environment while delivering essential infrastructure for the city.
