Eldoret Water Crisis: Shortages, Tariff Hikes & Scandals!

By Juliet Jerotich

Eldoret residents are grappling with an escalating water crisis as demand outstrips supply, illegal connections drain resources, and financial mismanagement cripples service delivery. With the town requiring 60 million liters of water daily against a production of just 43 million liters, shortages have become severe.

The Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS), the body responsible for water distribution, loses an estimated 18 million liters daily due to illegal connections. These losses translate to a staggering Sh500 million to Sh1 billion monthly, deepening financial woes and service inefficiencies.

Leadership in Crisis: Dr. Lawrence Tanui Faces a Daunting Task

As Dr. Lawrence Tanui takes over as Managing Director of ELDOWAS, he inherits a troubled institution plagued by mismanagement claims and labor disputes from his predecessor, Peter Biwott. Dr. Tanui must urgently address governance failures, financial misappropriation, and deteriorating infrastructure to restore public confidence.

Chebara Dam: A Vital Resource Under Strain

Chebara Dam, inaugurated by former President Daniel arap Moi in 1999, supplies 36,000 cubic meters of water daily to ELDOWAS. However, aging infrastructure, environmental degradation, and poor governance have led to frequent water supply disruptions.

On March 28, 2025, ELDOWAS announced the temporary shutdown of the Chebara Water Treatment Plant due to excessive sediment buildup. Officials expect the disruption to last until March 31, 2025.

Managing Director Dr. Lawrence Tanui assured residents that other treatment plants would remain operational, but areas such as Kapsoya, Annex, Langas, and Kimumu continue to experience dry taps. Water bowsers, which should provide emergency relief, remain unavailable.

“We have gone for days without water. How do they expect us to survive?” asked an angry Marura resident.

Tariff Hikes and Legal Battles

In October 2024, ELDOWAS implemented a 300% tariff increase, citing the need to raise Ksh 2.2 billion for infrastructure upgrades. The new rates pushed some households’ water bills to Ksh 7,000 per month, sparking public outrage.

Activist Kipkorir Menjo criticized the move:

“They send us SMS reminders for unpaid bills, yet they never informed us about such drastic increases.”

Legal battles ensued, and on March 25, 2025, the Environment and Land Court in Eldoret issued a temporary injunction, suspending the new tariffs. Justice Emanuel Washe ordered ELDOWAS to revert to previous billing rates until the case is resolved.

Huruma Ward MCA Kimani Wanjohi hailed the ruling as a victory for Eldoret residents:

“Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury. This ruling affirms that public utilities must be fair and accountable.”

Water Quality Concerns and Health Risks

Beyond supply shortages and high costs, residents are increasingly concerned about water quality. Complaints of discolored, murky water have emerged in Kapsoya, Mwanzo, and Pioneer estates.

Social media has been flooded with reports of stomach illnesses and diarrhea, which many blame on contaminated water.

“The water from our taps is brown. My children are sick, and we suspect it’s due to water contamination,” said Mary Jepkemboi, a mother from Annex.

ELDOWAS acknowledged that sediment accumulation in aging pipelines could be affecting water clarity. However, critics argue that the company has failed to implement proactive measures

Financial Mismanagement and Auditor General’s Findings

ELDOWAS is also facing scrutiny over its financial management. In June 2023, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu released a report exposing governance failures within the Municipality of Eldoret.

Key findings included:

• Lack of operational independence: Despite receiving a Municipal Charter in 2020, Eldoret’s budget was still controlled by the Uasin Gishu County Government instead of an independent municipal board.

• Budget underutilization: The municipality only spent Ksh 285.2 million of its approved Ksh 1.5 billion budget, potentially affecting service delivery.

• Illegal financial management practices: The municipal treasury was being managed by the county government, violating the Urban Areas and Cities Act.

These financial missteps have raised concerns about the efficiency of service delivery, including water supply infrastructure.

Stalled Projects and Allegations of Corruption

The construction of Chebara Dam forced the relocation of several institutions, including:

• Chebara Boys and Girls Secondary Schools

• Chebara and Kaptomut Primary Schools

• Chebara Vocational Training Centre

• Chebara African Inland Church

The government allocated Sh620.5 million for their relocation. However, many projects remain incomplete, with structures abandoned or deteriorating.

In 2019, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos called for an investigation into Sh300 million that went missing—money intended to compensate displaced institutions.

Earlier, in 2011, the government allocated Sh650 million to rebuild six displaced community projects. Despite this, over 3,000 residents continue to lack proper facilities.

“Corruption has left our children studying in temporary structures while millions are stolen,” lamented Samuel Kirwa, a local elder.

The alleged misappropriation of funds has led to calls for a full forensic audit of Eldowas and prosecution of those involved in the  theft of public funds.

About Author

Eldoret Media Hub

Eldoret Media Hub, a working space for journalists based in Uasin Gishu County set up by the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association (UGJA) through a Media Council of Kenya (MCK) grant.
The facility was officially opened in August 2021 by the MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo.

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