Eldoret Residents Hit Hard as Court Approves 300% Water Tariff Increase
It’s barely a year since Eldoret was upgraded to city status and already the locals are feeling the pinch. On Wednesday, the Environment and Land Court dismissed a petition challenging a 300% hike in water tariffs, paving the way for Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) to roll out the new rates.
Justice Emmanuel Washe ruled that the case filed by residents Kipkorir Menjo and David Chebet was out of court and contravened the Water Act. He also lifted the suspension orders issued in March, effectively giving Eldowas the go ahead.
The company defended the increase, saying the funds are for infrastructure projects worth Sh2.2 billion already approved by the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb). “We will proceed with the implementation in line with Wasreb’s guidelines and customer notification procedures,” said Eldowas managing director Lawrence Tanui.
Tanui said some accounts will continue under old rates temporarily but upcoming billing cycles will reflect the new tariffs. He also said the company is seeking legal advice on how to reconcile past billing periods split between old and new rates.
For many residents, however, the ruling feels like a betrayal. Eldoret, now home to over half a million people, still grapples with water shortages, discoloured supply and poor drainage—issues that have persisted despite the Sh1.5 billion Chebara Dam launched over two decades ago.
“There is need to replace the ageing infrastructure and deliver water services worthy of city status,” said David Kosgei, a resident of West Indies Estate.
Eldowas produces about 43 million litres of water daily against a demand of 60 million litres. The utility also loses about 38% of its supply—nearly 18 billion litres daily—through leakages and illegal connections, translating to monthly losses of Sh500 million to Sh1 billion.
While Eldowas points to these challenges as reason for the increase, petitioners have vowed to appeal the ruling. “The decision is unjust and an abuse of the law,” said Menjo.
Ordinary residents are also feeling the weight of city status. “We celebrated Eldoret’s upgrade but prestige comes at a cost—through higher taxes and levies,” said Mary Chepkwony.
Financial records reveal Eldowas’s struggles. The Auditor General’s 2023/2024 report shows the utility’s liabilities at Sh528.2 million, including debts to big projects like Chebara expansion (Sh279.3m), Lessos Water Supply (Sh188.1m) and Ellegirini/Kapsoya (Sh656.8m). Some of these debts are from loans inherited from the defunct municipal council.
Chebara Dam, which is in Elgeyo Marakwet but serves Eldoret, is also a controversy. Local families living nearby say they have no piped water and have received little in return for hosting the project. “It’s like living near a river but washing our hands with spit,” says Edwin Kipkorir, a Chebara resident.
Others complain of drowned livestock, submerged schools and stalled compensation. “The dam needs a permanent fence to protect lives and the government must expedite compensation to affected families,” argues Julius Chepting.
Although funds were allocated for redevelopment of institutions like Chebara Boys High School (Sh237.6m) and Chebara Youth Polytechnic (Sh136.2m) many projects are incomplete. Leaders are now demanding investigations into possible misappropriation of resources meant for host communities.
As residents wait for higher water bills, the question remains, will city status translate to services?
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Eldoret Residents Hit Hard as Court Approves 300% Water Tariff Increase