Residents of Juja and Ruiru will soon face increased water and sewer charges, following the Kenyan government’s announcement of new tariffs in response to rising inflation. The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) disclosed the changes on Friday in a Gazette notice, stating that the new rates were established after consultations with local communities.
Under the new structure, residents and businesses in both commercial and residential areas will now pay Ksh104 per cubic meter of water. Public institutions such as schools and colleges will be charged Ksh110 per cubic meter, while government institutions and industries will pay Ksh130 per cubic meter for water usage between 1 and 50 cubic meters. Bulk water sellers will be charged Ksh91 per cubic meter, and water kiosks will incur a monthly fee of Ksh110 per cubic meter.
For sewerage services, households with a water connection will be billed 75% of their monthly water consumption. Those with disconnected water accounts wishing to use sewer services will be charged based on their average sewer bill from the three months prior to disconnection. Residents without water connections will pay Ksh300 per month for sewerage services, while those with private water sources, such as boreholes, will also pay 75% of their water usage.
New water connection fees have also been revised. Residential customers will be charged Ksh2,500 for new connections, while small retail shops using less than 10 cubic meters of water per month will pay Ksh3,000. Larger retail shops with higher consumption will pay Ksh3,500 for new connections. Schools and institutions with water needs exceeding 200 cubic meters will be required to pay Ksh20,000 for connection services.
Property developers will also see increased costs for connecting water to construction sites. Minor construction sites requiring more than 200 cubic meters of water will be charged Ksh15,000 for connection, while major construction sites using over 300 cubic meters will need to pay Ksh50,000.
These adjustments aim to address the rising costs due to inflation and ensure sustainable water and sewer services for the residents of Juja and Ruiru.
