October will go down as one of the toughest months, financially, for most Kenyans, though those to be hit the hardest are Mombasa residents. Coupled with rise in fuel prices and electricity bills, Mombasa residents will also start paying higher water bills after Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MWSSC) application for new water tariffs is approved by the Coastal Water Service Board (CWSB).

The tariff adjustment is as follows:

• Customers who consume between 0 to 6 cubic metres of water per month will pay a flat rate of KES 400, up from KES 265.
• Those who use between 6 to 20 units will pay KES 78 per unit from KES 44 per unit.
• Those using between 21 units to 50 units will pay KES 90 per unit, from KES 53 per unit.
• Customers consuming up to 600 cubic metres of water per month will pay KES 90 per unit
• While those using more than 1,200 cubic metres of water will pay KES 100 per unit.

As posted in the Business Daily, MWSSC said that the tariff adjustment was justified given the fact that the last tariff review was in 2008. Since then the company suffered severe strain on its infrastructure and efficiency in water delivery to Coastal residents.

As posted in the Business Daily, the review is expected to increase revenues for the utility firm to KES 1.26 billion from KES 834 million in the last financial year.