The residents claim the move has significantly raised the cost of living, leaving many households struggling to cope.

Speaking during a press briefing at Kinoru, the residents, led by Joshua Muriki, alleged that the utility increased water tariffs by up to 300 per cent.

They called on fellow residents to review their recent bills and compare them with previous charges to understand the scale of the increment.

“Our Governor and MEWASS have failed our people because they increased water tariffs for MEWASS by 300 percent. We now ask every resident to compute the water bills they have recently paid and what they used to pay so that they can see the percentage used,” said Muriki.

The residents said attempts to establish responsibility for the tariff increase have resulted in conflicting explanations between MEWASS and the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB).

They claimed MEWASS officials initially attributed the hike to the regulator, but WASREB officials later denied responsibility and instead pointed back to the utility and the County government.

The residents further accused the County government of approving the tariff adjustments without conducting proper public participation.

They alleged that the process was limited to a small group of individuals in a private setting thereby excluding the wider public.

“When they increased those rates, they did not conduct public participation but instead took a few people to the Meru Slopes Hotel, where they discussed and consented to those proposals, which we now say did not follow the law. That is why we say we will have demonstrations this Friday if they do not listen to us,” said Muriki.

Another resident, Peter Kathukumi, questioned the selective nature of the tariff increase, arguing that it appeared to target residents within Meru town while sparing other areas in the county.

He said the move raises concerns about fairness and equal treatment of residents.

“Why is the County government seeing it fit to have the tariffs increased for residents from Meru town only instead of increasing for all other regions?,” questioned Kathukumi.

Mwenda Murerwa described the tariff increase as oppressive, saying it has tripled the cost of water for many households.

He also questioned the lack of transparency in MEWASS’s development plans, arguing that residents have not been given clear justification for the hike.

“An increase of 300 percent is not minimal because it is three times what we have been paying. MEWASS has not been clear on its development budget. We question whether the money is needed for its plans or will be taken elsewhere,” said Murerwa.

Murerwa also raised concerns about the management of sewerage funds collected over the years, noting that residents connected to the system have consistently paid for the service.

He questioned the accountability of those funds and called for clarity on how they have been utilized.

The residents also cited confusion over the progress of an ongoing sewerage project, referencing conflicting updates attributed to Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa.

They said the inconsistencies have further eroded confidence in the management of public projects.

Speaking on Friday during the closing ceremony of the 2nd Africa Urban Forum held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Prof. Kindiki said Kenya had made significant progress in addressing housing challenges through deliberate policy action and political will.

“We are inviting you to see what you can learn from our affordable housing model as you seek to implement your own models,” he said.

Speaking the DP at the same time urged leaders across the continent to adopt practical and scalable housing solutions aimed at delivering dignified and affordable living spaces for millions of urban residents.

He emphasized that Kenya had moved beyond rhetoric to action, noting that the government had prioritized implementation despite facing political resistance and structural challenges that had stalled similar efforts in the past.

“Kenya has made its choice. We have chosen action and we invite the continent to move with the same urgency, the same clarity and the same commitment,” he added.

Prof. Kindiki observed that although affordable housing had featured prominently in political manifestos since 2002, successive administrations had failed to actualize the agenda due to the complexities involved.

However, he credited the current administration under President William Ruto for taking bold steps to implement the long-awaited programme.

“For five election cycles, both winning parties and runners-up promised affordable housing, but none implemented it because of the challenges that came with it. In 2022, President William Ruto decided the time had come to face those challenges head-on,” he noted.

The Deputy President highlighted key milestones achieved so far, revealing that approximately 270,000 housing units are currently nearing completion under the programme.

He expressed confidence that the government is on track to meet its ambitious target of delivering one million homes.

“The next milestone which we will achieve shortly is reaching one million homes under this project,” he stated.

In addition to providing housing, Kindiki noted the programme has also created significant employment opportunities.

According to him , about 600,000 Kenyans who were previously unemployed have secured jobs through the initiative with projections to reach one million beneficiaries in the near future.

He further said the government has also entered into contracts worth over five billion dollars with 800 contractors tasked with implementing the housing projects.

The second in command at the same time clarified that 799 of these contractors are Kenyan-owned firms, underscoring the programme’s role in promoting local enterprise and economic growth.

“Kenya’s affordable housing project will continue and we hope that under President Ruto, we will be able to cushion the programme from policy disruption, which is common in developing countries,” he said.

Prof. Kindiki further challenged African countries to ensure that commitments made during the forum, particularly those captured in the Nairobi Declaration, are translated into tangible outcomes.

“The commitments made must translate into projects delivered, units constructed and lives improved. This will require the governments to act, strengthen enabling environments, streamline approvals and ensure that policy supports delivery at scale,” he noted.

Speaking while inspecting market development, road infrastructure, and electricity connectivity in Karurumo, Runyenjes, Embu County, DP Kindiki reassured Kenyans that the SHA remains stable and urged continued registration and contributions to the scheme.

“Only 7 million Kenyans had registered under the defunct NHIF medical cover out of a population of 55 million. As we speak, 30.2 million Kenyans are now under SHA medical cover. We will continue to strengthen and expand SHA, enhancing payable limits so it can cover all types of illnesses. This is the only way to relieve Kenyans from the burden of fundraising for medical expenses or relying on well-wishers,” Prof. Kindiki stated.

The DP described Gachagua as a “prophet of doom” for his claims, emphasizing that SHA will not collapse.

He projected that by December, 45 million Kenyans would be covered, with the number expected to reach 55 million by next June.

Earlier this week, Gachagua raised concerns over the SHA’s financial health, claiming the scheme could face severe operational challenges within six months.

Addressing congregants at ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia Constituency on Sunday, March 29, he warned that failure to intervene could trigger a nationwide crisis in healthcare service delivery.

“I have information that SHA will collapse in six months, and we will have a crisis in the health sector,” Gachagua said.

The former DP cited unpaid bills owed by SHA to hospitals, particularly faith‑based and private facilities, as a factor undermining the health system.

Kindiki urged the opposition to be patient and see the transformation this Country is going through.

Speaking in Nairobi on Friday during the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative Forum, Prof. Kindiki said the continent’s future hinges on people-centred development, innovation and public-private partnerships.

“The next 40 years will not be entirely defined by globalization because that happened 40 years ago. It is now behind us because the coming years will instead be shaped by drivers such as people-focused transformation, investment in technology and collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said the DP.

The Deputy President emphasized that embracing technology across all sectors is essential to solving present challenges while building a sustainable future.

He singled out the energy sector as a critical area where innovation must be scaled up.

“We must adopt technologies that help us find solutions to today’s challenges and create a more sustainable world since technological advancement must be realized across the board, including in energy,” he noted.

Despite Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, Prof. Kindiki noted that the continent remains behind in transitioning to clean power.

He noted that Africa currently generates about 56 gigawatts of renewable energy far below the estimated 300 gigawatts required to support industrial growth.

He stressed that governments alone cannot bridge this gap, urging closer partnerships with private investors.

“Public sector-driven reforms alone are not going to be tenable in the future. We must work together with the private sector, tap into its ideas ,capital and blend efforts to move forward,” said Kindiki.

Kenya, he noted, is already making significant strides, with 93 per cent of its electricity generated from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind, hydro and solar energy.

“This places Kenya among the world’s leaders in clean energy and for investors seeking low-carbon manufacturing platforms, Kenya offers a compelling proposition,” he added.

The forum, which brings together policymakers, investors and industry leaders, aims to turn ideas into bankable projects in clean energy, sustainable industries and green value chains.

During the event, Prof. Kindiki launched several initiatives designed to promote environmentally friendly solutions, including the Institutional Clean Cooking Investment Sector Pack, Kenya’s National Cooking Transition Strategy and the Burn Manufacturing Electric Cookstove.

He said the initiatives signal a shift in how clean cooking is perceived from a social intervention to a viable investment opportunity.

“Nearly 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and close to one billion lack access to clean cooking solutions in Kenya. We are deliberately repositioning clean cooking not as a philanthropic intervention, but as a strategic green investment opportunity,” said the deputy president.

The Deputy President reiterated that Africa’s transformation will depend on its ability to harness technology, mobilize private capital and implement inclusive policies that improve livelihoods.

He urged stakeholders to seize the moment and work collectively to unlock the continent’s potential through innovation and sustainable development.

The Sh3.96 billion investment is required to enhance access to lighting and clean cooking at household level, support access to basic health services and clean water as well as agricultural production.

According to the Kenya National Cooking Strategy 2024 – 2028, Meru is among five counties with the highest number of households without clean cooking solutions. More than 388,000 households in Meru use firewood and charcoal for cooking.

Speaking during the launch of the Meru Energy Plan and Accelerating Clean Cooking Transition project, County director for energy Hellen Nkatha said a survey had established that more than 80 percent of households were using wood fuel.

The baseline survey, she said, had established that Meru residents use more than 1 million tonnes of firewood annually, impacting negatively on the environment.

“The county energy plan will guide the government on investment priorities to address access to energy for lighting, cooking and manufacturing. Our focus is on accelerating transition from biomass to biogas, gas, electric appliances and improved cooking stoves that save energy,” Ms Nkatha said.

This will be achieved by embedding clean cooking priorities into development plans.

Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK) National Coordinator Elly Odhiambo said they were supporting Meru, Taita Taveta and Kakamega counties to adopt clean cooking solutions through the A2CT project.

“We are encouraging linkages between energy entrepreneurs and users as well as capacity building for local entrepreneurs to develop different clean cooking solutions,” Mr Odhiambo said.

Accelerating County Cooking Transitions (A2CT) project manager Mariam Karanja said they intend to transition 86 percent of Meru residents to clean cooking solutions.

“Firewood, charcoal, and kerosene burden families with high health risks, financial costs, and time-consuming labour. Indoor air pollution contributes to respiratory illness, disproportionately affecting women and children. Unsustainable biomass use accelerates deforestation and increases emissions,” she said.

Ms Karanja appealed to the government to address affordability and lack of awareness which are limiting transition to clean cooking solutions.

“This is a wakeup call to the government to increase awareness, increase access and lower the cost of the liquefied gas, electric appliances and biogas equipment,” Ms Karanja said.

The calls came during debate on a motion tabled by PNU nominated MCA Karimi Kilingo seeking urgent formulation of a county livestock security management policy to address cattle theft, cross-border incursions and insecurity affecting pastoral communities in Meru.

While moving support for the motion, Athwana MCA Jim Muchui said herders in Buuri and Nyambene had suffered losses for decades, with bandit attacks continuing despite repeated security interventions.

“Most men have been killed leaving behind widows and vulnerable families. We lost 11 people and nine were from Akithi and Athwana wards, yet many years after independence our people are still exposed to raids,” said Muchui.

He said although security remains a national government function, the county must introduce measures to regulate livestock movement, arguing that raiders often rely on informers operating within grazing areas in Meru.

Muchui proposed that livestock entering Meru for grazing should only be allowed through a permit system issued by county authorities, while at least 10 per cent of animals should be fitted with electronic tracking devices to improve traceability during theft cases.

“The national government must take responsibility. We expect stolen livestock recovered and compensation given to families that have lost relatives and livelihoods,” he added.

Akithi MCA Mwenda Ithili backed the motion and accused security agencies of failing to stop repeated attacks despite promises of operations in bandit-prone areas.

He called for reshuffles of county security leadership in Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana and Isiolo, saying weak enforcement had allowed livestock theft to continue unchecked.
“The county economy is under threat. If the government compensated those who died during protests, why not compensate people killed while protecting their livelihoods in Meru?” said Ithili.

He also alleged that poor coordination between counties had enabled stolen livestock to disappear across borders, insisting that stronger inter-county surveillance was needed to track animal movement and prevent illegal grazing.

Muthara MCA Aulario Murangiri described banditry as an economic crisis that had left the lower Nyambene facing food insecurity after farmers abandoned cultivation due to fear of attacks.

“This is not only about deaths. It is economic impoverishment. Families cannot farm, children are left vulnerable and hunger is looming in lower Nyambene,” said Murangiri, adding that he was considering legal action to compel compensation for affected residents.

Motion sponsor Kilingo said Meru had operated without a livestock security policy since devolution despite cattle rearing remaining a major pillar of the county economy.

She said repeated killings in Muthara and surrounding grazing belts had reached alarming levels, with some communities now forced to search for burial space because of frequent deaths linked to raids.

Kilingo told the House the proposed policy would introduce livestock registration through branding and electronic tagging, establish a county livestock database, regulate animal movement through permits and create designated livestock routes, quarantine zones and holding grounds.

The motion also seeks establishment of a county livestock security coordination body under the agriculture department to work jointly with national security agencies and neighbouring counties in monitoring livestock movement and responding to threats.

Antuambui MCA Patrick Mburugu said more than 22,000 livestock had been stolen and over 1,000 people killed since 2022, warning that insecurity had disrupted schooling and livelihoods across pastoral zones.

“Cattle rustling has become a thorn in the flesh. If this policy is implemented fully and the national government acts firmly, normalcy will return and herders will rebuild their lives,” he said.

MCAs argued that beyond livestock theft, continued raids had also weakened local leather, meat and dairy value chains, with the county losing huge revenues daily because pastoral production remained unstable.

If adopted, the motion will require the County Government of Meru to allocate funds for implementation while engaging neighbouring counties and national agencies in a joint livestock security framework.