Kenya Water Service Regulatory Board announces new tariffs for 2024-2025

KENYA – The Kenya Water Service Regulatory Board (WASREB) has announced new water tariffs for the 2024-2025 financial year, which will see residents across various towns face increased water prices.  

The new rates, set to take effect from August 2, 2024, to June 30, 2025, will affect domestic, commercial, and educational users across the country. 

In Kakamega, domestic water users will pay between KES91 (US$0.71) and KES 227 (US$1.77) per cubic meter (M3), while commercial users will be charged between KES 136(US$1.06) and KES 238 (US$1.86). Educational institutions will pay between KES 68 (US$0.53) and KES 170 (US$1.33).  

Kisumu residents will face charges ranging from US$1.12 to US$1.38 per M3 for domestic use, with commercial rates set at US$0.98 to US$1.38, and schools paying US$0.52 to US$0.95.  

In Nyeri, domestic users will pay between US$0.41  and US$0.88, while commercial users and educational institutions will pay US$0.66 to US$1.17 and US$0.36 to US$0.48, respectively.  

Kiambu residents will see domestic water rates between US$0.55 and US$1.22, commercial users between US$0.92 and US$1.22, and schools between US$0.65 and US$0.98. 

The new tariffs come at a time when Kenya is grappling with a severe national water crisis.  

According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), over 16 million Kenyans rely on untreated and unsafe water sources.  

Rural families are particularly affected, spending an average of US$38 per month on water, while urban households with piped systems, such as those in Nairobi, spend significantly less at US$4.46. 

Experts attribute the ongoing water poverty in urban areas to low supply, high demand, and poor water management planning.  

Malesi Shivaji, CEO of the Kenya Water and Civil Society Network (KEWASNET), pointed out that Kenya’s current water infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of the growing urban population, further exacerbating shortages in major cities. 

Efforts to address the water crisis were highlighted during the Kenya Water and Sanitation Investors Conference in March 2024, where the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors was underscored.  

Mecuria Assefaw, Manager of the African Development Bank’s Water Security and Sanitation Division, emphasized the need for diversified investments to bridge Kenya’s KES 995 billion (US$7.5M) financing gap to achieve universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. 

Stakeholders continue to push for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a solution to close the funding gap and improve Kenya’s water and sanitation infrastructure for the future. 

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