Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina and Mt Kenya West diocese ACK bishop Joseph Kagunda have called for a review of water tariffs in the county.
Maina said he does not understand why Nyeri—which is sandwiched between two water towers of Mt Kenya and the Aberdare—can have higher water tariffs than dry counties.
The senator called on residents to reject the charges and replace the current leadership with one that will take care of their welfare during 2022 elections.
He also condemned the violence that was recently meted upon residents who tried to demonstrate over the high tariffs.
The demonstrators were attacked by goons with some ending up in hospital after sustaining injuries.
“I have asked the police commander to look into the matter and take action. Nobody should be allowed to hire goons to attack residents when they express their disappointment with the services being offered,” he said.
The senator said it is unfortunate that the tariffs were reviewed at a time when people need water most to wash their hands as a way of fighting the spread of Covid-19.
He spoke on Saturday at St Peters ACK Church in Nyeri town after attending a fundraiser for the construction of a retirement residence for Bishop Kagunda who is set to retire in two years.
“As the senator of Nyeri, I must say I am extremely concerned with the deterioration of services in this county, water in this county is more expensive than in Wajir where it is dry,” he said.
On health services, Maina said Nyeri hospitals have had no proper medical attention while staff are frustrated.
He said the county referral hospital previously served the entire Central region, but it is now unfortunate that people seeking services there are sent to buy basic items such as gloves and bandages in private chemists.
The legislator said from church reports, clerics have been burying an average of 12 people per week in their areas, a problem he blamed on poor healthcare services.
Bishop Kagunda said in the neighbouring counties, water is not as costly as in Nyeri, adding that something needs to be done to bring the tariffs down.
“On hospitals, we have so many hospitals both private and public and we used to have people coming from all over to be treated here. But today, there are no medicines,” Kagunda said.
The cleric also decried the ongoing strikes and destruction of property in secondary schools and blamed the Education ministry for not going on the ground to listen to people’s grievances.
“I am happy that they talked about the half term which is coming on the 19 to 23 this month,” he said.
He said people have tried to raise their voices so that issues in the institutions are addressed but the government turned a blind eye and deaf ear.
The Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company board chairman Patrick Karinga admitted there were complaints from customers over the reviewed water tariffs.
Karinga said the issue of tariffs is not set by the company or the county government.
“The mandate falls under the Water Services Regulatory Board, however, concurrence from the county government must be sought,” he said.
The company, he said, was engaging with WASREB and the County government over the issue.
“It has come to the attention of the management and board of NYEWASCO that the customers have some grievances with the new tariffs,” he said.
Karinga said in keeping with WASREB regulation, NYEWASCO went through the process of tariffs review and was approved and gazetted for implementation in April 2021.
He said WASREB has been reviewing tariffs to favour the low income households.
-Edited by SKanyara
