Caleb Kemboi
June 29, 2013
ELDORET Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) in Kenya, will increase its water tariffs despite the looming shortage in Eldoret town and its environs.
Residents will have to dig deeper into their pockets as the company will soon start to effect the sh.62 per cubic metre tariff from the previous sh.54 per cubic meter.
Speaking during the stakeholders meeting to review the changes, Eldowas managing director Reuben Tuwei said the increase is meant to address the water shortage menace and improve service provision.
Tuwei said the operational costs such as sewer cleaning, electricity among other services have gone up and they have consulted with the water regulatory board which regulates water tariffs.
They have concluded the review process hence to inform the public what they expect to be charged.
“We last approve our current tariff in the year 2010 and there have been changes on development which we need to increase them so has to meet the costs,”Tuwei said.
He said they will take up development loans to enable them build more dams to increase production in the region.
“The town faces acute shortage of water due to increasing population and that is why we are still ration to ensure that everybody gets water. Now we want to review our tariffs so as to provide this service,” he added.
Chebara dam at Elgeyo Marakwet County currently serves Eldoret town and its outskirts with a production of 36,400 cubic metres per day contrary to the towns’ demand of forty six thousand cubic metre per day.
Lake Victoria North water Services Board will help the company build Kipkaren dam near Eldoret airport to produce about 10,000 cubicmetres per day to address the shortage.
Elegerini dam near Kapataget will also be rehabilitated to produce 9000 cubic metres per day since at the moment it serves as a storage facility.
“We use Elegerini dam to store water during rainy season but we will also rehabilitate to produce it and solve the water shortage once and for all in the town,”Tuwei assured.
However the review has raised uproar amongst the public that the company could have looked for partners to rehabilitate old dams instead of increasing the tariffs.
“The town is faced by a big water shortage and Eldowas should have partnered with the communities to extend their pipes to individual dams and old ones to increase water production,” Charles Mose chairman Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Uasin Gishu County said.