Lobby vows legal action over Nairobi water prices
Consumer rights group Kenya Alliance of Residents Association (KARA) has threatened to go to court to stop the proposed water price hike in the city, saying the move would increase the cost of living.
The lobby dismissed the decision by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, calling it ill-timed, unjustifiable and insensitive to the current economic hardships Kenyans are going through.
“The utility firm should first seal water leakages and improve coverage to justify any increases,” said KARA’s chief executive Henry Ochieng, in the statement.
NCWSC had proposed an upward tariff review and justified the move, saying it will enable the firm to operate at full cost recovery and meet conditions necessary for improving service delivery. In a three-page memorandum to the water firm, KARA said water services must of necessity remain affordable and accessible to all and is a requirement under article 43 of the Constitution on economic and social rights.
Domestic consumers
In the current Nairobi Water tariffs, domestic and industrial consumers, and government institutions pay a fixed flat rate of Sh204 for units between 0 and 6 cubic metres. Units of water above six and between the range seven to 60 for domestic consumers will attract levies of Sh. 53 per cubic metre consumed.
The proposed tariff will see domestic and residential consumers with consumption between one and six units (a unit is equal to 1,000 litres), pay Sh45 per unit of water up from the current Sh34. Sewerage, which is charged at 75 per cent of the volume of water billed, will cost Sh43 per unit.
Those consuming between seven and 20 units will pay Sh67 for water and Sh56 for sewerage, while consumption between 21 and 50 units will be charged Sh70 per unit for water and Sh63 for sewerage.
Those who consume between 51 and 100 units will pay a tariff of Sh76 per unit for water and Sh65 for sewer.
According to the new proposals, which if approved will be in place for the next three years, two new bands have been introduced.
For units between 101 and 300, the tariff will be Sh78 per unit of water and Sh68 for sewerage while consumption above 300 units will be charged at Sh80 per unit and Sh72 for sewerage.s.
