Kenyan hip-hop artist Octopizzo has spoken out on the ongoing water shortage in Kibra, Nairobi, blaming leadership failures and poor planning rather than weather conditions.

In a statement shared on X on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Kibra-born musician highlighted the struggles residents have faced in recent weeks, with some neighbourhoods going without water for nearly a month despite being located close to areas with regular supply.

Octopizzo said the crisis has exposed deep policy and governance gaps that continue to punish vulnerable communities. He pointed to the stark contrast between neighbouring estates, saying the situation cannot be explained by geography alone.

“Water scarcity in Kibra is not about rain; it’s about policy, political mileage, broken infrastructure, and failed accountability. We cannot normalise a reality where there is water flowing in Jamhuri and Woodley, yet Makina and Karanja, barely 200 to 500 meters away, go dry. That is not geography. That is injustice. When a community survives three weeks without water in a city crisscrossed by pipelines, it is not nature that has failed; it is leadership and coordination,” Octopizzo wrote.

In his statement, the artist also acknowledged recent efforts that have helped ease the situation in parts of Kibra. He specifically praised Raila Odinga Junior for personally intervening after residents raised an alarm over the prolonged shortage.

“I want to thank Raila Odinga Junior for stepping in. I’ve just come from Karanja and can confirm the water has started flowing again, slowly. Showing up matters,” part of his statement reads.

Despite welcoming the temporary relief, Octopizzo warned that Kibra’s water problems cannot be solved through short-term fixes or individual goodwill. He urged residents and leaders to push for lasting solutions that address infrastructure, planning, and accountability across the water supply system.

“But Kibra cannot live on interventions and goodwill. We must organise, demand structural reform, and fix the system so this never happens again. Water is a right. Not a favour. And governance must make it flow consistently, equitably, and with dignity,” Octopizzo wrote.

Octopizzo said the water shortage has affected households across Makina, Karanja and neighbouring villages, forcing families to rely on costly water vendors or unsafe alternatives.