Muranga County govt sued over water tariffs

The Water Service Regulatory Board has sued the County Government of Murang’a over water tariffs.

The water board claims that the county undermined its authority when it published a gazette notice informing residents that the water tariffs provided had been adjusted.

According to the regulatory board, the mandate of formulating a National Water Resource Strategy, recommending tariffs to County Water Service Providers falls under it and not the county.

The board argues that the county government has no powers to change and adjust water tariffs downwards or otherwise without their approval.

“The county government neither budgets nor gives subsidies to support and supplement the provision of water services in Murang’a County by the interested parties,” argues the board.

Murang’a South Water and Sanitation Company, Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company, Kahuti Water and Sanitation Companyas well as Gatamathi Water and Sanitation Company have been named as interested parties in the suit.

The board now wants the impugned Gazzette notice published by the Muranga County declared illegal, unlawful and most fundamentally marred with procedural improprieties.