Nairobi Water Bills Set to Rise as Sakaja Adds New Garbage Collection Fee

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced plans to introduce a new ‘conservancy fee’ that all residents will be required to pay, aiming to strengthen the city’s waste management system.

Speaking in an interview with NTV, Sakaja said the county has already consulted with the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb) to integrate the fee into residents’ water bills.

He explained that the new levy will be crucial in improving Nairobi’s capacity to manage solid waste sustainably. The funds collected will primarily be used to repair existing waste management vehicles and purchase durable new equipment, which will be deployed across the county to enhance garbage collection and disposal services.

“Nairobi needs sustainable solutions that are not quick fixes, especially on the issue of garbage. We have finally agreed with WASREB to include the conservancy fee in the water bill,” Sakaja said.

He added, “When I was growing up in this city, every water bill had a component that included solid waste management, which disappeared. But now with this fee, everybody will be paying because it is sustainable; we will be able to service our vehicles and other logistics.”

Currently, an average Nairobi household pays around KSh1,200 for water alone. Additional charges for sewerage, fixed meter rent, a standing charge, and 16 percent VAT bring the total monthly bill to approximately KSh2,000. With the introduction of the conservancy fee, residents should expect a further increase in their monthly bills.

Partnerships and Revenue Generation

Sakaja highlighted that the county government plans to collaborate with the national government and private sector partners to ensure that waste management, unlike in the past, becomes a revenue-generating initiative through recycling.

The county also intends to involve the public through education campaigns on proper waste disposal, particularly the use of litter bins, to reduce vandalism and improve service efficiency.

“In the past, garbage was just a cost center; there was no revenue, and that led to pending bills. So we are partnering with the national government because they will do the offtake of fertilizer that will come from the waste,” Sakaja said.

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