A new report has revealed that Nairobi is increasingly under the influence of powerful cartels that have infiltrated key service sectors, taking advantage of residents while operating under the protection of county officials and politicians.
The study, conducted by the Africa Cities Research Consortium, highlights how these groups control access to essential services such as water, electricity, and public transport, often creating artificial shortages to exploit consumers.
According to the report, released in February 2025, informal service providers—commonly referred to as cartels—dominate Nairobi’s service sector by offering low-quality but widely available alternatives. These networks allegedly operate with political backing or through collusion with official service providers.
The report points to Kibera as a prime example, where electricity cartels interfere with Kenya Power’s distribution by tampering with meters, vandalizing transformers, and reselling electricity through illegal connections.
“In many informal settlements, water cartels manufacture artificial shortages, forcing residents to buy water at inflated prices. The situation is worsened by corruption within county offices, which enables these illegal practices to persist,” states the report.
Additionally, illegal water connections remain widespread, with enforcement efforts hindered by a lack of political will. Many of these cartels reportedly enjoy protection from influential figures within city politics.
The study also sheds light on Nairobi’s struggling transport infrastructure, particularly in Eastlands, where congestion continues to worsen due to the absence of a mass transit system.
Despite the growing demand for public transport, the city’s railway system has remained stagnant for decades, forcing the majority of commuters—around 58.7%—to rely on matatus, while 17.1% walk to their destinations.
The report further notes that many roads in informal settlements and satellite towns remain unpaved, complicating mobility for residents. Narrow streets often force pedestrians to share space with motorists, while cycling lanes and sidewalks are frequently occupied by motorcycles and parked cars, putting non-motorized road users at risk.
According to the research, these infrastructural shortcomings stem from poor city planning and a tendency to prioritize road expansion over investments in pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure.
Sanitation remains another pressing issue in Nairobi, with services described as fragmented and inconsistent. While 83% of residents reportedly have access to water, only 51% are connected to the main sewer system.
The situation is particularly dire in Nairobi’s outskirts, where informal settlements rely heavily on pit latrines and septic tanks. The poor state of sanitation services has led to significant public health concerns, with the World Bank estimating that the city loses approximately Ksh 1.7 billion annually due to the economic impact of inadequate sanitation, including healthcare costs and premature deaths.
The report further indicates that while some sewer networks exist in informal settlements, connectivity levels remain low. Kenya’s policy focus on sewerage infrastructure has left major gaps in non-sewered areas, where on-site sanitation and faecal sludge management have largely been ignored.
The healthcare sector in Nairobi is also grappling with significant challenges. Out of 803 health facilities in the county, only 119—around 15%—are publicly owned, with the rest operated by private entities, NGOs, and faith-based organizations.
The report highlights that many public health facilities suffer from inadequate staffing, poor maintenance, and frequent medicine shortages. Although the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) undertook hospital expansion projects between 2020 and 2022, 19 of these projects have stalled, while others remain unequipped.
The financial burden of healthcare in the city is heavily shouldered by households, which contribute more than half of Nairobi’s total health expenditure. The report cites an alarming order fill rate of just 12% for medicine stocks in public health facilities, indicating persistent shortages.
Education in Nairobi is marked by stark inequalities. While the county government manages 223 public Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres and the national government operates 206 public primary schools, their distribution is far from even.
For instance, Pipeline estate lacks a single public school, while Mukuru Kwa Njenga—one of the city’s largest informal settlements—has only one government-run primary school. Private institutions have stepped in to bridge the gap, but many families struggle with the costs associated with private education.
The report also delves into Nairobi’s stalled police reforms, tracing their roots back to the post-election violence of 2007-2008. While the 2010 Constitution provided for significant changes, efforts to improve police accountability have faced resistance.
The report argues that reforms that have expanded police powers have been implemented successfully, but measures aimed at ensuring accountability have been systematically obstructed. As a result, many residents continue to endure police harassment and extrajudicial violence with little hope for justice.
Overall, the report paints a troubling picture of Nairobi’s governance, highlighting widespread corruption, political interference, and inadequate service provision. The researchers stress the urgent need for reforms to break cartel influence, improve infrastructure, and ensure residents have equitable access to essential services.A new report has revealed that Nairobi is increasingly under the influence of powerful cartels that have infiltrated key service sectors, taking advantage of residents while operating under the protection of county officials and politicians.
The study, conducted by the Africa Cities Research Consortium, highlights how these groups control access to essential services such as water, electricity, and public transport, often creating artificial shortages to exploit consumers.
According to the report, released in February 2025, informal service providers—commonly referred to as cartels—dominate Nairobi’s service sector by offering low-quality but widely available alternatives. These networks allegedly operate with political backing or through collusion with official service providers.
The report points to Kibera as a prime example, where electricity cartels interfere with Kenya Power’s distribution by tampering with meters, vandalizing transformers, and reselling electricity through illegal connections.
“In many informal settlements, water cartels manufacture artificial shortages, forcing residents to buy water at inflated prices. The situation is worsened by corruption within county offices, which enables these illegal practices to persist,” states the report.
Additionally, illegal water connections remain widespread, with enforcement efforts hindered by a lack of political will. Many of these cartels reportedly enjoy protection from influential figures within city politics.
The study also sheds light on Nairobi’s struggling transport infrastructure, particularly in Eastlands, where congestion continues to worsen due to the absence of a mass transit system.
Despite the growing demand for public transport, the city’s railway system has remained stagnant for decades, forcing the majority of commuters—around 58.7%—to rely on matatus, while 17.1% walk to their destinations.
The report further notes that many roads in informal settlements and satellite towns remain unpaved, complicating mobility for residents. Narrow streets often force pedestrians to share space with motorists, while cycling lanes and sidewalks are frequently occupied by motorcycles and parked cars, putting non-motorized road users at risk.
According to the research, these infrastructural shortcomings stem from poor city planning and a tendency to prioritize road expansion over investments in pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure.
Sanitation remains another pressing issue in Nairobi, with services described as fragmented and inconsistent. While 83% of residents reportedly have access to water, only 51% are connected to the main sewer system.
The situation is particularly dire in Nairobi’s outskirts, where informal settlements rely heavily on pit latrines and septic tanks. The poor state of sanitation services has led to significant public health concerns, with the World Bank estimating that the city loses approximately Ksh 1.7 billion annually due to the economic impact of inadequate sanitation, including healthcare costs and premature deaths.
The report further indicates that while some sewer networks exist in informal settlements, connectivity levels remain low. Kenya’s policy focus on sewerage infrastructure has left major gaps in non-sewered areas, where on-site sanitation and faecal sludge management have largely been ignored.
The healthcare sector in Nairobi is also grappling with significant challenges. Out of 803 health facilities in the county, only 119—around 15%—are publicly owned, with the rest operated by private entities, NGOs, and faith-based organizations.
The report highlights that many public health facilities suffer from inadequate staffing, poor maintenance, and frequent medicine shortages. Although the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) undertook hospital expansion projects between 2020 and 2022, 19 of these projects have stalled, while others remain unequipped.
The financial burden of healthcare in the city is heavily shouldered by households, which contribute more than half of Nairobi’s total health expenditure. The report cites an alarming order fill rate of just 12% for medicine stocks in public health facilities, indicating persistent shortages.
Education in Nairobi is marked by stark inequalities. While the county government manages 223 public Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres and the national government operates 206 public primary schools, their distribution is far from even.
For instance, Pipeline estate lacks a single public school, while Mukuru Kwa Njenga—one of the city’s largest informal settlements—has only one government-run primary school. Private institutions have stepped in to bridge the gap, but many families struggle with the costs associated with private education.
The report also delves into Nairobi’s stalled police reforms, tracing their roots back to the post-election violence of 2007-2008. While the 2010 Constitution provided for significant changes, efforts to improve police accountability have faced resistance.
The report argues that reforms that have expanded police powers have been implemented successfully, but measures aimed at ensuring accountability have been systematically obstructed. As a result, many residents continue to endure police harassment and extrajudicial violence with little hope for justice.
Overall, the report paints a troubling picture of Nairobi’s governance, highlighting widespread corruption, political interference, and inadequate service provision. The researchers stress the urgent need for reforms to break cartel influence, improve infrastructure, and ensure residents have equitable access to essential services.
