Water suppliers get the green light to increase charges

In the new changes announced in Kenya Gazette of last Friday, all category of users — domestic, industrial, schools or water kiosks — served by Eldoret Water and Sewerage Services Company will from next month see bills increase by 11 per cent to Sh18.87 per 1.000 litres.

Beginning May, water vendors will face a charge of Sh35 up from Sh15 per 1,000 litres while bulk consumers such as manufacturers will see their bills increase from Sh20 to Sh33 per 1,000 litres.

In last week’s gazette notice, Rift Valley Water Services Board’s CEO Japheth Mutai said consumers will be asked to increase deposits from Sh1,000 to Sh2,500 for domestic users with kiosk owners paying Sh5,000 up from current Sh3,000.

Penalty on illegal connection will also go up to Sh15,000 for domestic users and Sh30,000 for commercial users, 10 times the current levels. Also doubled are connection fee and refundable deposits.

Mr Gakubia said more area-specific tariffs adjustments were on the way for users in other regions whose bills do not reflect current business realities.

“It is important to remember that water tariffs will vary from place to place depending on the kind of infrastructure needed to tap it from its natural source,” he said.