Nairobi: The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) has instructed all small-scale water service providers to complete their registration by April 28th, this year, a move that aims to enforce compliance with the Water Act 2016 which requires licensing for all water service providers.
According to Kenya News Agency, the directive targets a range of water providers such as community projects, gated community suppliers, individual and private operators, and water projects run by public benefit and non-governmental organizations. Government regulations stipulate that all water providers must register with the water authority, including small-scale operations like water kiosks, tankers, and private boreholes. Operating a water service without a license is illegal under the Water Act 2016.
Section 85(1) of the Water Act 2016 provides that a person shall not provide water services unless under the authority of a license issued by WASREB. In compliance, all water service system operators in all 47 counties are therefore required to register their operations.
According to WASREB CEO Engineer Richard Cheruiyot, registration is key to maintaining high water service standards, covering quality, cost, and customer experience, playing a crucial role in protecting consumer health and safety and enabling the water authority to track water service access.
To facilitate registration, the process has been made accessible via the Small-Scale Service Providers (SSSPs) Data Collection link on its website. Water service operators are urged to complete their registration promptly to mitigate the risk of incurring penalties.
The authority has urged water system operators to comply with the directive and begin immediate registration. Upon completion, WASREB will maintain a register of all licensed water service providers, detailing their names, addresses, and the nature of their services.
WASREB, created by the Water Act 2002 and currently operating under the Water Act 2016, is responsible for guaranteeing sustainable, efficient, and affordable water services, and for safeguarding consumer rights by approving water tariffs, balancing affordability for consumers, monitoring and enforcing compliance through audits and assessments, and ensuring service providers meet operational and legal requirements.