- Water companies says Watma did not involve them while increasing water charges,.
- They appeal to Water CS Alice Wahome to intervene and ensure all stakeholders are consulted..
Image: GEORGE MUGO
Water project operators are seeking orders to stop the Water Regulatory Management Authority from collecting increment of charges imposed to them.
They say if the increased charges were collected from them, some might close down while others would hike water prices at a time when the commodity is much needed.
The case filed at Kiambu High court said the projects under the umbrella of Kiambu County Community Water Projects Association claims Warma did not involve them while rising different charges.
I the the case which is being heard by Lady Justice A. Mshila, the officials says among the charges that angered them was the increment of Sh5 up from Sh50 cents per cubic meter of water they fetch each month.
According to the affidavit filed at the court by their lawyer, they have sued the ministry of water, the attorney general and Warma and Wiambu county government as an interested party.
Speaking at Terracotta Hotel in Limuru town, the association chairman Joseph Ndung'u, said they cannot discuss a case in court since it was prejudicial.
However, they appealed to the water CS Alice Wahome to intervene and stop the Warma from implementing the regulation until all parties involved were called to a meeting and discuss a way forward.
He also said currently, the country is experiencing inflation which has seen many items prices being increased.
Image: GEORGE MUGO
Ndung'u noted that, the electricity cost has also gone up and said the comumuity is appealing to the government to intervene.
“A lot of our customers are even asking us to lend them some water since it is getting jobs even casual it was hard. We are contemplating whether to increase water bill owing to the electricity prices, repairs and some wages we pay our workers.” he said.
He revealed this is one of the reason they are forced to ration their customers with water.
Ndung'u said if the government will not intervene, they will be forced to hike water prices.
“If we get some help from our county government, we may be able to realise some profits. We we can buy solar panels and start using solar to reduce power charges,” he said.
Anne Wangui,67, said she uses 60 litres at her home which she fetches her back.
“We carry them using containers we call mtungi and each cost Sh 10. We do not want to imagine if the water bills are hiked and that container start costing Sh20. We will never have enough water” she says.
The association organising secretary George Ngotho pleads with Kiambu county government to support the water projects financially.
However, Ngotho raises concern with a new law from the county that all water vendors, push cart and donkey operators be registered with their personal details, a pin number and identity cards.
They are also required to file report of the source of water they fetch. They are supposed to have done that by March 31, this year.
Ngotho termed the issue as ridiculous, saying the current administration found people operating and it has not contributed anything to help them.
“We only saw a poster saying so. We wonder why can’t the county government organise for a meeting all call these vendors, water companies and Warma amd we discuss such issues” he said.
Ngotho and Ndung'u are appealing to the Water CS to organise public participations in all areas of the country since the issue of increment has affected all water projects.
(Edited by V. Graham)