Big Win for Residents! Court Halts ELDOWAS’ Shocking Water Tariff Hike!
“Access to water is a basic human right, and we are glad that the court has acknowledged the importance of this essential service.
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The Environment and Land Court in Eldoret has issued a temporary injunction halting the implementation of new water tariffs by the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS). Justice Emanuel Washe presided over the hearing on Tuesday morning, staying Gazette Notice No. 12825 dated October 21, 2024, pending the determination of a petition challenging the tariff hike.
The court directed ELDOWAS to revert to the previous billing rates from October 2024 onward. Consumers are instructed to settle outstanding bills based on the old tariffs. Justice Washe emphasized that if the new tariffs are not upheld, residents would suffer financially without justification. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on May 13, 2025.
This ruling provides relief to consumers who had faced disconnections for non-compliance with the increased rates. Residents had protested the abrupt tariff hike, arguing that it imposed undue financial strain. Some reported monthly bills surging from approximately Ksh 2,000 to Ksh 7,000. A resident expressed frustration, stating, “We cannot afford such exorbitant charges; water is a basic necessity.”
ELDOWAS had announced the tariff adjustment in October 2024, citing approval from the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB). The company stated that the increase was necessary to raise over Ksh 2.2 billion for infrastructure improvements.
In response to public outcry, local leaders, including Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba Toroitich, questioned the justification for the tariff increase. He termed the hike “unreasonable and punitive,” urging ELDOWAS to reconsider.
Kipkorir Menjo, a political activist and one of the petitioners against the ELDOWAS water tariff increase, expressed relief following the court’s decision to halt the new tariffs. He stated, “Access to water is a basic human right, and we are glad that the court has acknowledged the importance of this essential service.
The court’s intervention underscores the necessity for public participation and transparency in utility pricing. Residents now await the May hearing, hopeful for a resolution that balances operational costs with affordability
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