Drama unfolded at the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) CPA offices along Thika Road after Kiamaiko MCA Joseph Karanja Ndung’u, popularly known as Ndoch, stormed the premises to protest delays in unblocking a sewer in his ward.
The MCA reportedly patrolled the offices and found the staff swinging on the chairs having tea before smearing human waste on the walls while demanding answers from the water company over what he described as prolonged inaction on the sewerage crisis affecting residents of Kiamaiko.
Ndung’u was immediately arrested and taken to Ruaraka Police Station following the incident.
By the time of going to press, the MCA was reportedly being processed at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices ahead of possible arraignment.
Speaking after the incident, Ndung’u said he had repeatedly raised the issue with Nairobi Water officials but claimed his complaints had been ignored.
“We have been calling the NCWSC offices every day. We sent them videos of blocked sewers in Kiamaiko Ward but they ignored our calls and messages,” the MCA said.
He defended his actions as a protest meant to draw attention to the plight of residents who have been living with blocked sewer lines.
“I have decided to take action so that they can feel what the residents have been feeling with the blocked sewer,” he added.
The MCA accused Nairobi Water of delaying service delivery in the ward despite receiving numerous complaints from residents and local leaders.
He further claimed that the water company moved to unblock the sewer shortly after his protest, suggesting that action was only taken after the incident at the offices.
The incident has brought renewed attention to persistent sewerage challenges in parts of Nairobi, where blocked sewer lines can expose residents to sanitation and public health risks.
Residents have previously raised concerns over overflowing sewage and delayed responses to reports of blocked sewer infrastructure in several parts of the city.
Our county reporter contacted Nairobi City Water Managing Director Martin Nang’ole for a right of reply.
Nangole referred the matter to the company’s corporate communications manager. However, the official did not respond to calls seeking the company’s position on the MCA’s allegations and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Nairobi residents across multiple estates have been raising alarms over the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company failing to clear blocked sewers, which has led to raw sewage flooding residential areas and created massive public health. Residents have been forced to wade through raw sewage that flooded their homes and compounds in depicting leadership failure.
