Nyeri leaders have opposed the proposed increase in water tariffs, arguing that the move will hurt residents already grappling with a high cost of living.

They have criticised both county officials and regulatory bodies, insisting that the increment is unnecessary and unfair.

Speaking in Endarasha, Kieni Constituency on December 1, 2025, the leaders led by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga cautioned the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) against approving the proposed tariffs, saying the county’s leadership would not sit back and watch residents suffer.

‎“We will not allow WASREB to punish water users in Nyeri with higher tariffs. Water is a basic right, and any attempt to increase its cost will be met with firm resistance,” Wamatinga warned.

At the same time, Kieni Member of Parliament (MP) Njoroge Wainaina revealed that he had already sought legal redress to stop the move, accusing WASREB of pushing through the process without proper justification.

“I have already gone to court to oppose this move, and even if it’s a government body and I’m in the government, we must defend our people from being oppressed,” he said.

On his part, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi blamed the county government, saying the leadership had failed to safeguard the welfare of the people.

“The governor and the MCAs must take responsibility. Their silence and inaction have allowed this matter to escalate. They should be defending residents, not enabling policies that raise the cost of essential services,” Wamumbi said.

The leaders vowed that they will not allow any water body to increase the tariffs, which will only affect the water consumers.

The water proposal

According to a schedule seen by People Daily digital domestic customers who consume between 1-6 units will pay Ksh80 per unit, up from Ksh53, representing a 50.6 per cent increase.

The 15,807 customers who consume between 7-20 units will now pay Ksh120 per unit from Ksh85, which is a 37 per cent increase, while some 4,699 customers who consume between 21-50 units will part with Ksh127, representing an 11 per cent increase.

For the 320 customers who take up between 51-100 units of water every month, the cost of water per unit consumed will increase by 0.45 per cent to Ksh135 per unit.

Similarly, the 85 customers whose consumption exceeds 300 units should brace themselves for a 0.20 per cent increase, which will bring their amount paid for every unit consumed to Ksh165.

John Maathai, a representative from NYEWASCO’s Commercial Services Directorate, defended the tariff review, arguing that the law required the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) to update the rates every five years.

He told the residents that the review is coming at a time when the company has been facing numerous funding challenges, including diminishing donor support, the introduction of new levies by the government, increased operational costs and delayed payment of water bills by national government institutions.

“As we speak, the cost of pumping water from the source has gone up by 300 per cent, and we also have other statutory levies like the 4 per cent we remit from all the money we collect,” he said.

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