Kericho Water and Sanitation Company has embarked on a last-mile water connection initiative. [File, Standard]
Water and sanitation companies across the country have urged the government to stop charging them commercial electricity tariffs, saying the high cost of power is driving up the cost of providing essential water services to Kenyans.
The firms want the government to consider introducing a special electricity tariff for water service providers.
They argued that the companies are public-interest entities whose primary responsibility is to ensure Kenyans have access to reliable and affordable water rather than generate profits.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Water and Sanitation Providers Association Culture and Games Festival being held in Kericho, the Association’s chairman Thomas Odingo said water companies were struggling with rising operational costs, with electricity accounting for a significant portion of their expenditure.
“We are appealing to the government to review the commercial electricity tariffs imposed on water companies. We are not profit-making organisations; our mandate is to provide an essential commodity to Kenyans,” said Odingo.
He said reducing electricity costs would enable water companies to invest more in expanding their networks and improving service delivery.
Odingo also called on the government to intervene over the rising cost of fuel, which he said was further increasing the cost of running water companies' fleets.