Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has appointed Raila Taurayi Ernest to the Board of Directors of the Nairobi City County Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), marking the latest high-profile leadership change at the county’s primary water utility.
The appointment places Taurayi, a nephew of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, into a strategic governance role as City Hall seeks to stabilize water distribution, cut non-revenue water losses, and oversee ongoing capital investments across the capital. His inclusion on the board comes as the utility implements reforms following the formal confirmation of Martin Nang’ole as substantive Managing Director earlier this year.
Taurayi’s appointment carries notable political weight within Nairobi’s municipal governance framework. Sakaja’s administration has consistently navigated a delicate balance between county assembly oversight, multi-factional political alignments, and service delivery demands in a city where water rationing remains a persistent challenge for millions of residents. Bringing a member of the prominent Odinga family onto a key municipal board underscores broader cross-party alignments operating at both county and national levels.
NCWSC remains one of Nairobi County’s most economically vital state corporations, recently reporting a record-breaking Sh12.6 billion in annual revenue. However, the company continues to face intense public scrutiny over unequal distribution networks, widespread informal connections, and unpaid utility debts owed by national government agencies and commercial enterprises.
Taurayi will join the board headed by chairperson Arnold Karanja, where directors are tasked with providing policy direction, approving major procurement tenders, and enforcing financial compliance as the company expands infrastructure to meet rising urban demand.
