Kitengela tap water carries more than twice central Nairobi’s dissolved solids
A report by water purification firm iClear Kenya found water in the Kitengela, Katani and Athi River corridor averaged 374 mg/L of dissolved solids. Central Nairobi averaged 166 mg/L, according to 886 readings taken at customer homes.
Water in Nairobi's fast-growing satellite towns carries far more dissolved solids than water in the city centre. That is the finding of a field report by iClear Kenya, the Star reported. The water purification firm prepared the report with Shadow Creative Group Limited. It covers 886 readings taken between October 2025 and October 2026. The South-East corridor around Kitengela, Katani and Athi River averaged 374 milligrams per litre (mg/L) of total dissolved solids (TDS). That is more than twice the 166 mg/L recorded in Nairobi West and Central. Kitengela fared worst, with an average of 546 mg/L. There, 62 per cent of readings exceeded the report's 500 mg/L threshold. Katani averaged 411 mg/L, Syokimau 374 mg/L and Greatwall 361 mg/L. Central Nairobi had its own problems. One reading there hit 837 mg/L. That shows individual properties can record high levels even in better-served areas. The report warns that "households cannot assume consistent quality at the tap, because source water can vary considerably". The report links the problem to housing growing faster than investment in…
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