Rights activists urge power and water companies to suspend bills
By Bernard Gitau, March 22, 2020
Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have called upon Kenya Power and all public water providers to suspend payment of bills for all people living in urban settlements during the COVID-19 crisis period.
The organisations expressed concerns that millions of people living in urban informal settlements and other neighbourhoods across the country do not get continuous clean and affordable water.
The call was made in a statement to the Health Cabinet Secretary signed by Amnesty International, ActionAid, Umande Trust, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) among others.
They added the right to health is jeopardized without water and sanitation in normal times.
“Lack of water therefore puts the National Emergency Response Committee on COVID-19 recommendation of hand washing with soap an illusion,” they added.
“All public water service providers and Kenya Power announce moratorium on all water and electricity charges for people in urban settlements for duration of crisis,”
The Committee also to ensure water services regulatory board introduces a mechanism with the undersigned and village leaders to monitor and regulate prices charged by private water vendors.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Service Board and other county governments to vacate the ban on rainwater harvesting to allow communities to legally conserve and use rainfall water for hand washing.