Outrage in Eldoret: New City Status Marred by 300% Water Tariff Hike – Furious Residents Demand Justice!
“Until the company engages residents directly and transparently, I urge everyone not to pay these abnormal bills.”Kimani Wanjohi MCA Huruma Ward
ELDOWAS Water Meter/Photo Eldowas
Eldoret residents are in an uproar after the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) introduced a significant increase in water tariffs, raising rates by 300%. This adjustment, reflected in residents’ recent monthly bills, has sparked widespread discontent and calls for action, with many claiming the hike is an infringement on their constitutional right to affordable and accessible water. Eldoret was officially granted city status on August 15, 2024, becoming Kenya’s fifth city. However, rather than enjoying improved services, residents say the tariff hike is a step backward, adding undue financial strain.
In response, Huruma Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Kimani Wanjohi has issued a two-week ultimatum to ELDOWAS, demanding the immediate reversal of the new tariffs. “The MD, Peter Biwott, found a thriving water company before he plundered it to its deathbed,” Wanjohi stated, referring to allegations that Biwott, the company’s former managing director, engaged in financial mismanagement. “Now, in an effort to recover from this, the company has passed the burden of its own failures onto residents through a massive 300% increase. This is unacceptable, and the MD should face the consequences. Until the company engages residents directly and transparently, I urge everyone not to pay these abnormal bills.”
Wanjohi highlighted the heavy burden the new tariffs are placing on households, particularly during a time of rising living costs. Standing firmly in support of the community, Wanjohi warned that if ELDOWAS does not revoke the increase, he will lead a peaceful protest to occupy the company’s offices. “If they continue to ignore our voices, we will make them hear us,” he stated. “We will stand as one until this exploitative tariff is rolled back.”
The tariff hike has raised significant concerns about the transparency of the public consultation process. Some residents and leaders allege that ELDOWAS failed to genuinely involve the community in its decision-making, claiming that people were allegedly brought in from outlying areas simply to support the proposed increase. HubzMedia’s investigation revealed that many residents who previously paid around Ksh 600 now face monthly water bills close to Ksh 2,500, while others who were paying Ksh 1,000 are now being billed nearly Ksh 5,000.
Kipkorir Menjo, a leader of the Eldoret Residents Association, has suggested legal action, stating that ELDOWAS pushed the tariff hike without meaningful public participation. Taking to his Facebook page, Menjo reflected on the troubling nature of the increase: “Chebara Dam is our main water source, and it supplies water through gravity. How, then, can the tariff justify a 300% increase?” Menjo questioned the oversight role of the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), calling for greater accountability. “WASREB must also answer some hard questions regarding this adjustment. We are calling for transparency and justice.”
Menjo also announced a public meeting set for Wednesday, November 13, at Highlands Inn, where residents are encouraged to bring their inflated bills and sign a petition for legal recourse. He urged unity and invoked the words of the late Kenyan playwright Prof. Francis Imbuga: “When the madness of an entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it’s not enough to say the man is mad.” Menjo’s call to action reflects the frustration and sense of injustice shared by many Eldoret residents, who feel they have been sidelined in a decision that significantly affects their daily lives.
Social media forums have become hotbeds of discussion, as community members share personal experiences of hardship due to the inflated water bills. Accusations are also mounting against former ELDOWAS management, with claims that ex-MD Peter Biwott mismanaged company resources, leading to financial instability. An Auditor General’s report has allegedly highlighted significant irregularities in Biwott’s handling of resources and finances. Residents and local leaders argue that it is unfair for the community to absorb the costs of past mismanagement.
Menjo’s call to gather at Highlands Inn represents not only a protest against the new tariffs but also a rallying point for transparency, accountability, and justice. The meeting will offer residents a chance to voice their grievances and discuss a unified path forward.
The future of ELDOWAS and the fate of the contentious new tariffs remain uncertain, as Eldoret’s citizens continue to rally for affordable access to essential water services in their newly minted city.
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