A whistleblower has lifted the lid on a silent, organised theft eating into Nairobi’s public resources. Their account points to a network inside the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company that has allegedly turned public property into personal income.
Hundreds of manhole covers and thousands of step irons are disappearing every year. They do not vanish by accident. They vanish through a chain of staff who steal, load, and sell the items cheaply to waiting private contractors. The scale of loss is staggering and demands action.
Inside the Theft and Illegal Sale of Nairobi Water Assets
The whistleblower’s detailed account reveals a long-running racket operating inside NWSC stores and yards. The operation appears simple but effective. Workers responsible for receiving, recording, and securing assets allegedly coordinate to remove items quietly, bypass record systems, then push them into an underground market.
The items stolen are not minor supplies. They are core components of Nairobi’s water infrastructure. Their disappearance weakens the system, exposes the public to danger, and forces NWSC to spend millions on new purchases every year.
The biggest red flag is the huge price gap between the official value and the suspected illegal selling price. The loss is clear, measurable, and alarming.
Massive Losses from Step Iron Theft
Step irons, used inside manholes for worker access, appear to be disappearing in huge quantities. The insider claims up to 10,000 pieces vanish every year.
Below is a breakdown of the suspected losses.
Step Irons Annual Loss Table
| Item | Market Price per Piece (KES) | Suspected Sale Price (KES) | Estimated Quantity Lost Annually | Estimated Annual Loss (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step Irons | 650 | 250 | 10,000 | 4,000,000 |
The illegal sale price is so low that only collusion can explain the gap. A drop from KES 650 to KES 250 suggests deliberate undervaluing to encourage bulk purchases by private contractors.
The insider believes storekeepers and yard teams select items, remove them from records, then channel them out quietly. The scale of loss means the racket cannot be the work of a single individual. It indicates cooperation among several staff who understand the system and how to manipulate it without raising alarms.
Manhole Covers Driving Bigger Illegal Profits
If step irons offer steady illegal income, manhole covers offer the jackpot. These heavy, expensive items cost NWSC about KES 25,000 each through official procurement.
Yet, insiders say staff are selling them to private contractors for KES 6,000.
Manhole Covers Loss Table
| Item | Official NWSC Price (KES) | Suspected Sale Price (KES) | Estimated Quantity Lost Annually | Estimated Annual Loss (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhole Covers | 25,000 | 6,000 | 100–1000 | 19,000,000–190,000,000 |
This table shows the shocking financial hole created by the theft. Even at the lowest estimate, NWSC could be losing nearly KES 20 million a year. At the upper range, the loss could hit KES 190 million.
Such losses directly raise water tariffs for consumers, delay repairs, and weaken Nairobi’s ageing water network. A missing manhole cover is not just a financial problem. It creates dangerous open pits on roads and footpaths, risking lives.
Signs of Internal Collusion Growing Hard to Ignore
The whistleblower’s report points to a clear pattern of collusion. Storekeepers and yard staff have direct access to the stolen items. They control inventory lists, gate movements, and disposal channels.
The items do not move themselves. Someone must approve the movement. Someone must escort the vehicle. Someone must sign papers or fail to sign them deliberately.
Private contractors also appear to be part of the chain. They accept the goods, ask no questions, and benefit from huge discounts funded by taxpayers. The wide gap between the legal and illegal prices shows both sides understand the crime and benefit from it.
The whistleblower says the theft has been happening for years. The regular disappearance of high-value items means the system has been compromised deeply. Without intervention, the losses will continue quietly, year after year.
What Nairobi Must Do to Stop the Theft and Illegal Sale of Nairobi Water Assets
Nairobi cannot afford to lose tens or hundreds of millions through internal theft. The county government should conduct a full audit of NWSC stores. CCTV, gate logs, and procurement records should be checked. Independent auditors should document all assets received, stored, and issued. Staff rotations, surprise inspections, and digital inventory systems can help reduce internal manipulation.
The whistleblower took a major risk to reveal this information. Their courage shows how desperate the situation has become inside NWSC.
Nairobi residents deserve clean water, safe streets, and honest management. Stopping the theft and illegal sale of Nairobi Water Assets is the first step toward restoring trust and protecting public resources.
