A storm is brewing in Eldoret, Kenya’s newest city, where a 300 percent water tariff hike by the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) ignited public outrage and thrust local leaders into the political spotlight.
The controversial tariff hike, which was given the green light by the Environment and Land Court last week, has triggered intense backlash from furious residents who accuse their elected leaders of betrayal and abandoning them in their hour of need.
Tensions are reaching a boiling point in the North Rift City, with weekly street demonstrations planned to begin next week, even as a fresh legal appeal is launched to reverse the court ruling.
With tempers flaring and demonstrations looming in the city that happens to be President William Ruto’s home ground, residents are vowing to punish silent and inactive elected officials and throw them out in the 2027 General Election for their ‘deafening silence,’ unless the controversial charges are reversed.
Local leaders, including six Members of Parliament from Uasin Gishu County, Senator Jackson Mandago, and Governor Jonathan Chelilim Bii, are under fire for what citizens are calling ‘cowardly silence.’
“It is quite unusual for the leaders - MPs, Senator, and the Governor to remain tight-lipped on such an increment of water charges, and the electorate should be ready to vote them out in the next General Election,” Mr Nelson Kiptoo, one of the angry residents leading the calls for accountability.
He was among the water consumers who gathered at a city hotel to discuss the implications of the tariff increase and discuss their next steps.
The revised water charges, now legally cleared for implementation, will see households pay triple their usual rates, a move residents say is unjust, inhumane, and economically crippling.
Emotions ran high at the Wednesday consumers meeting, which took a strong stance, with residents vowing to resist the tariff increase.
Calling the hike unfair and exploitative, protesting residents argue that the decision targets already overtaxed residents and accuse local legislators of failing to stand up for their electorate. it.
“We have started the appeal process after our clients expressed dissatisfaction with the court ruling,” said lawyer Maathai Maina, representing the residents in the case.
Residents have called for intervention from President Ruto, who hails from the region, demanding that the new tariffs be suspended until proper public consultation is conducted.
“The new water charges are punitive, and we ask President Ruto to intervene to allow public participation on reasonable costs,” said Chairperson of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), North Rift branch, Mr Abubakar Bini.
Last Wednesday, the Environment and Land Court in Eldoret struck out a petition challenging the tariffs, with Justice Emmanuel Washe ruling that the petition contravened the provisions of the Water Act.
The Judge said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, and also lifted previous suspension orders issued on March 25, 2025, allowing Eldowas to enforce the new rates.
Petitioners Mr Kipkorir Menjo and Mr David Chebet, representing residents, have vowed to escalate the fight, describing the ruling as an abuse of the law.
“Eldoret receives water from Chebara Dam in Elgeyo Marakwet County through gravity, and it is unjustifiable to increase the charges by 300 percent,” argued Ms Florence Chemweno, another concerned city resident.
The tariff revision was first announced by Eldowas in October 2024, following approval from the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB). The company argued that the new rates will help it raise over Sh2.2 billion for critical infrastructure projects.
Eldowas Managing Director, Dr Lawrence Tanui, confirmed the new charges would take effect immediately following the court’s decision and would be applied in line with Gazette Notice No. 12825 dated 4th October 2025.
“We will proceed with the implementation in line with WASREB’s guidelines and customer notification procedures,” said Dr Tanui.
He noted that some ongoing accounts will still be billed under the old rates, but all future billing will reflect the new tariffs.
“We are seeking legal interpretation on billing relating to the five months billed under the approved new tariff and the six months billed under the old tariff, and guidance will be shared once finalized,” he stated while promising improved service delivery.
Even as it pushes for higher revenue, Eldowas is battling massive losses, with an estimated 18 billion litres of water being lost daily to illegal connections, resulting in monthly losses of between Sh500 million and Sh1 billion.
With a population of over 500,000, Eldoret is among Kenya’s fastest-growing urban centres, trailing only Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Ruiru. The city needs about 60 million litres of water per day, but only produces 43 million litres, creating a severe supply-demand gap that has left many households struggling.
