Residents of Nairobi will soon see a new charge on their monthly water bills following a major policy shift aimed at strengthening the city’s waste management system.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced the introduction of a conservancy fee that will be integrated into the billing structure of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC). The move comes after a formal agreement between the county government and the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB), allowing for consolidated billing. CWSC
ALSO READ: NIGERIA NDPC HOSTS FCT NUJ, PROMISES TRAINING
Under the new structure, the conservancy levy will appear as a separate line item on standard water bills. By attaching the fee to water usage, the county aims to improve collection efficiency and create a more predictable and sustainable funding stream for environmental services.
According to Governor Sakaja, the revenue generated will be ring-fenced specifically for sanitation and waste management improvements across the capital. The funds will be directed toward three key areas:
- Fleet Modernization: Acquisition of new garbage collection trucks and rehabilitation of the county’s aging fleet.
- Service Delivery Enhancement: Increasing the frequency and efficiency of waste collection in residential estates and commercial districts.
- Waste Infrastructure Development: Maintenance of disposal sites and support for long-term recycling and environmental sustainability initiatives.
“This is about shared responsibility,” Sakaja stated during the announcement. “To have a clean city, we must have a reliable way to fund the equipment and personnel required to manage our waste.”
The announcement has triggered mixed reactions among residents. Some Nairobians have welcomed the proposal, acknowledging the city’s persistent garbage challenges and the need for structured funding to address them. However, others have raised concerns about the rising cost of living, arguing that the additional fee compounds existing financial pressures from taxes and utility bills.
The County Government is expected to provide further details in the coming weeks, including the specific amount to be charged and the official rollout date for the new billing framework.
