A section of Nyeri town residents has vowed to reject a proposed increase in water tariffs by the Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company (NYEWASCO)arguing that the cost of living is already high.
Speaking at the Kamakwa shopping center during a sensitization exercise ahead of a public participation, the residents said that the review was ill-timed and called on the water company to consider retaining the current tariffs until 2030.
“The cost of living is already high. The little money that people are able to salvage after remitting all the taxes cannot be able to settle such high water bills. During the previous attempt to increase the water tariffs, we informed you that the decision was ill timed and not well thought out. Today we are recommending that the tariffs remain the same for the next five years,” said Lewis Mathenge, a resident.
Another resident Kandara Wachira proposed a reduction in the water tariffs.
He also wondered why residents residing near the company’s plant were subjected to the same water tariffs as those living farther from the plant.
He also questioned the rationale used to bill the residents for sewerage services while most of them use pit latrines.
“Why should I pay for the sewer yet I am not connected to the sewerage line?” he posed.
“My suggestion is that the charges be reserved for the people who benefit from the service. Additionally, it is time for the company to give its loyal customers some cushion by reducing the water tariffs instead of hiking them,” Wachira told the representatives from NYEWASCO.
The water and sewerage company is set to review water tariffs by between 0.2 per cent and 50 per cent.
According to a schedule seen by KNA domestic customers who consume between 1-6 units will pay Sh 80 per unit up from Sh 53 representing a 50.6 per cent increase.
The 15,807 customers who consume between 7-20 units will now pay Sh 120 per unit from Sh 85 which is a 37 per cent increase while some 4,699 customers who consume between 21-50 units will part with Sh127 representing an 11 per cent increase.
For the 320 customers who take up between 51-100 units of water every month, the cost of water per unit consumed will increase by 0.45 per cent to Sh135 per unit.
Similarly, the 85 customers whose consumption exceeds 300 units should brace themselves for a 0.20 percent increase which will bring their amount paid for every unit consumed to Sh 165.
John Maathai, a representative from NYEWASCO’s Commercial Services Directorate defended the tariff review arguing that the law required the Water Services Regulatory Board(WASREB) to update the rates every five years.
He told the residents that the review is coming at a time when the company has been facing numerous funding challenges including diminishing donor support, the introduction of new levies by the government, increased operation costs and delayed payment of water bills by national government institutions.
“As we speak, the cost of pumping water from the source has gone up by 300 per cent and we also have other statutory levies like the 4 per cent we remit from all the money we collect
“Sample analysis used to cost the company Sh 1.2 million per year, we are paying Sh 6.7million which is 460 per cent increase. Water abstraction was Sh 3.6 million per year, we are now paying Sh 20 million that is 453 per cent. We used to buy pipes at Sh 53 million per year currently we are buying them at Sh 93 million. When these charges go up, we are left with no choice but to also increase our costs. Furthermore, these proposed tariffs have been proposed by the regulator WASREB,” he said.
Maathai said that they are now banking on the anticipated enhanced revenue to keep the going.
He also said that the revenue collected will also help the water and sewerage company undertake some crucial projects which are aimed at improving service delivery.
“We need enough revenue to support the operation costs and to undertake some earmarked projects. And if the population keeps increasing it means we will continue to operate under strained resources and we might resort to providing the bare minimum services or we might even turn to water rationing,” said Maathai.
NYEWASCO projects to raise a total of Sh 514 million over the next five years to help the company improve critical infrastructure and ensure sustainability in service delivery in the face of a rising clientele base.
Currently the company serves a total of 44,131 customers, a meteoric rise compared to 1997 when the newly created water service provider had 571 customers.
Revenue has also grown over the years with the company hoping to rake in a total of Sh 685 million in revenue this year alone as its clientele base continues to grow.
The company also provides a total of 14,925 clients with sewerage services compared to 294 in 1997.
Among developments lined up for implementation by the company in order to enhance service delivery to the public include the Kabiruini-Chaka Water project, Kiamwathi Sewerage project and Mweiga Sewerage Project.
by Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
