Residents of Uasin Gishu have a reason to smile after the County announced plans to review its water tariff.
For the last few days, there has been an uproar amongst the Eldoret business community and residents after the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) increased charges on water services.
The new tariff took effect on November 1, 2024.
Locals have however been up in arms, claiming their water bills had increased up to 300 per cent.
Collection of signatures to initiate a petition against the new charges was initiated last week.
However, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim now says they will lower the tariff.
In a media briefing on Friday, November 15, 2024, the county boss said talks to address the issue are already ongoing.
“We are in talks with the Water Services Regulatory Authority (WASREB) and the Eldoret Residents’ Association because we’re going to lower the tariff,” Bii said.
However, he noted that the County and Eldowas are not to blame for the high cost of piped water.
“It’s WASREB that sets the tariff,” the governor said.
In the current tariff, a cubic meter of water for household use costs Ksh130 up from Ksh34.
The hike has been questioned by locals.
“In 2019, ELDOWAS reviewed tariffs from Sh34 to 37 for 1-6 cubic meters & their collection was about Sh85M per month. The same band now goes for Sh130, what informed the huge jump?” asked Eldoret Residents’ Association chairperson Kipkorir Menjo.
