Residents of Narok County have expressed support for the proposed water tariff review by Narok Water and Sewerage Services Company Limited (NARWASSCO).,
However, they challenged the utility firm to improve water supply and service delivery across the county before implementing the new charges.
Speaking during a public consultation forum held at the Narok North Youth Empowerment Centre, the residents said they had no objection to the proposed tariff adjustments provided the company addresses persistent water shortages and ensures a reliable supply to households and businesses.
The forum was organized by NARWASSCO in conjunction with the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) in compliance with Section 87 of the Water Act, 2016, which requires public participation before approval of tariff adjustments and licensing of water service providers.
NARWASSCO Managing Director Eng. Justus Lemein told the meeting that the proposed tariff review is aimed at enabling full cost recovery to ensure sustainable service delivery and support critical investments in water infrastructure across the county.
Eng. Lemein said the proposed progressive rising block tariff model for residential consumers is designed to protect basic domestic water access by charging lower rates for the first 6 cubic metres of water while applying higher tariffs for excessive consumption to promote responsible water use and conservation.
Under the proposed structure, residential consumers will pay a fixed baseline charge of Sh 420 for the first 6 cubic metres of water, while commercial consumers will pay Sh500 for the same volume. Community water kiosks will be charged a flat rate of Sh35 per cubic metre.
The Managing Director assured residents that revenue generated from the tariff adjustment would be used to maintain and expand water infrastructure, improve service reliability, and ensure the continued provision of clean and safe water within the company’s service area.
Residents who attended the meeting welcomed the proposal, noting that enhanced revenue collection would enable the company to expand water coverage and address longstanding supply challenges affecting several parts of the county.
However, they urged NARWASSCO to ensure that any increase in tariffs is matched by visible improvements in service delivery, including timely response to customer complaints, reduced water rationing, and expansion of pipeline networks to underserved areas.
The public was informed that written comments on the tariff review application can be submitted to WASREB through email or hard-copy submissions within 30 days of the official publication of the public notice.
by Hillary Shimnagha and Emily Kadzo
