Nairobi County has hit a historic milestone in revenue collection,
with both City Hall and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited
(NCWSC) reporting record earnings for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The county collected Sh13.8 billion in own-source revenue,
while the water company brought in Sh11.7 billion, marking the highest
collections ever recorded by both entities.
Governor Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday attributed the growth to
ongoing reforms, improved systems, and intensified enforcement of revenue
collection.
“This is a record since devolution. Up from Sh12.8 billion
last year, it represents a strong increase of Sh1 billion. It shows what is
possible when government and citizens both do their part,” Sakaja said.
On the water company’s performance, Sakaja noted that
revenue had grown by nearly Sh4 billion since he assumed office in 2022, when
collections had stagnated at Sh8 billion annually.
“In three years, NCWSC has grown from Sh8 billion to Sh11.7
billion, thanks to digitisation, improved billing, and better customer
engagement. We will now focus on reducing illegal connections and non-revenue
water,” he said.
The County’s Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, said the
growth was driven by enforcement targeting land rate and rent defaulters.
“We are stepping up enforcement. Everyone must contribute to
the city’s running. That includes land rates, house rent, unified business permits,
and more,” Njoroge said.
In a separate update, NCWSC Chairman Arnold Karanja stated
that the company had consistently grown by over Sh1 billion every year for the past
two years.
“From Sh9.4 billion in 2022/2023 to Sh11.7 billion this year
– that’s a 24% increase. In June alone, we recorded our highest-ever billing at
Sh1.08 billion,” Karanja said.
The increase has been supported by the installation of new
water meters, the replacement of faulty ones, and a better response to customer
complaints about leaks and illegal connections.
Karanja also highlighted the role of technology in improving
transparency.
“Customers can now read their own meters by dialling *260#,
which has helped boost accountability and collection,” he said.
The Governor announced that the long-awaited Northern Water
Collector Tunnel is now operational and is supplying Nairobi with an additional
140 million litres of water daily.
“This has improved water pressure and supply in previously
dry areas,” Sakaja said.
On the broader county budget, Finance CEC Charles Kerich
said Nairobi has tabled a Sh44.6 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial
year, allocating Sh13.4 billion for development and Sh 31.2 billion for
recurrent spending.
The budget includes Sh849 million for health centre upgrades
and KSh 400 million for non-pharmaceutical supplies in county hospitals. An
additional Sh2.8 billion is earmarked for road construction and KSh 1 billion
for sports facilities.
The school feeding programme will continue, receiving Sh700
million, while Sh857 million has been allocated for bursaries across all 85
wards.
Each ward will receive Sh7 million, with the balance
supporting continuing students under the Executive Scholarship Programme.
Ward Development Projects will receive Sh2.15 billion, with
Kerich stating that 145 projects were completed in the last financial year.
He also reassured residents that the county will not raise
taxes.
“We’re not increasing taxes. Our focus is on expanding the
tax base and bringing more revenue streams into the net,” Kerich said.
In total, the county now posts Sh13.4 billion in own-source
revenue—up from Sh10 billion in 2022—a result of expanded collection and
reforms.
The record figures from both City Hall and NCWSC signal
Nairobi’s steady financial recovery and a growing ability to fund services
without relying heavily on national government support.
