The Nithi Water and Sanitation Company Limited (NIWASCO), an agent of the Tharaka-Nithi County Government responsible for providing water and sanitation services to residents, has recently faced backlash due to increased water bills.
Residents complained that they had been receiving text messages with inflated water charges, where a unit of water that cost thirty-three shillings previously was now being charged at one hundred shillings.
During a County Assembly public participation event at Picnic Grounds in Chuka, various residents, including Members of the County Assembly for Karingani and Igamba Ng’ombe wards, Godfrey Gaturo and Njeru Ing’ara, took a moment to share their views on the issue, raising concern over the increased bills.
MCA Gaturo while addressing the matter reprimanded NIWASCO, emphasizing that it is not a profit-making company. He questioned whether the necessary public participation had been conducted before the charges were increased.
“This water is meant to help residents. There should have been proper consultations between the company and the residents before new tariffs were implemented,” he said, promising to follow up with the County’s department for Water Services.
MCA Njeru Ing’ara echoed these concerns, stating that no proper public participation had been conducted by NIWASCO. He also pointed out that the fee paid by residents is not a tariff but rather a facilitation fee for repairs.
“The County Government is supposed to supply water to the people. There should be an agreement, and if any changes are to be made, the people should be notified,” he reiterated.
Justin Njebiu, a resident of Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe, expressed concern that the new charges disproportionately affect farmers with laborers, as they can no longer afford to pay their workers under these conditions.
“We urge NIWASCO to call for proper public participation so that we can negotiate the amount to be added to the water bill,” he concluded.
Earlier , a large number of residents visited NIWASCO’s offices in Chuka Town seeking answers to the inflated water bills, stating that the charges had more than tripled.
They also expressed frustration that the fee hike coincides with a worsening economy.
“There was no notice. You wouldn’t find all these people at the office if there had been a notice. I am a member of the water community, and no public participation meeting was called,” one resident lamented.
These remarks followed an online uproar, particularly on Facebook, where many voiced their frustration over the high rates.
