WASREB Statement On Notice Published By Muranga County On Review Of Water Tariffs

The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) draws attention to the public over a notice published in the Standard Newspaper on 10th April 2025 by the County Government of Murang'a. The notice issued is against section 72 (1) (b) of the Water Act 2016, which gives powers to WASREB to evaluate and recommend water and sewerage tariffs to the County water services providers and approve the imposition of such tariffs in line with consumer protection standards.

Whereas the provision of Water and Sanitation Services is a devolved function, the framework for ownership and management of water service providers is guided by the 2010 Constitution (Article 46 on consumer protection) and the Water Act 2016. As such, Section 70 of the Water Act 2016 establishes WASREB as the national regulator for water and sanitation services with the principal object of protecting the interests and rights of consumers in the provision of water services, including the approval of water tariffs.

Section 158 of the Water Act 2016 demands that a County Government give effect to the national water services standards and conditions set by the Regulatory Board for purposes of ensuring consumer protection and take into consideration the requirement relating to Tariffs gazetted by the Regulatory Board.

In view of the foregoing, we wish to clarify that only WASREB has the powers to evaluate, approve and gazette tariffs for water services provision. Therefore, the notice published by the County Government of Murang'a on the Standard Newspaper on 10th April 2025 is invalid.

The public is advised to ignore the notice issued by the County Government of Murang'a and note that any changes in water services tariffs shall be published and gazetted by WASREB.