The Water Resources Authority (WRA) on Saturday threatened to take legal action against landowners operating boreholes without permits in a government’s plan to tame illegal water abstraction.
WRA chairperson Donald Murgor directed land owners with boreholes and wells to register and pay for operation permits.
“WRA has established operational guidelines and procedures for permit applications; one is required to do an application online through the eCitizen. I am sure every Kenyan is aware that we have the Citizen, which is operational,” stated Murgor.
Further, companies and individuals holding expired water permits were directed to renew in 30 days, effective March 1, 2024, failure to which disconnection of the water works and prosecution of the owner will be executed without further notice.
Applying for ID to cost 300, replacement 1,000; 34-page passport 7,500
Murgor noted that borehole owners without operating licenses risk heavy penalties of a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million, a jail term not exceeding two years or both a fine and imprisonment.
“Members of the public with expired permits or without a valid permit from WRA are required to visit designated WRA offices in their areas to renew their expired permit and regularise their abstractions with the authority within 30 days from the date of notice,” WRA Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Shurie, said.
Shurie explained that the move has been necessitated by the scarcity of water in the country, which has brought about increasing competition from various water uses, hence the need for strict regulations on access and use.
According to WRA, Permitting considers the different classes of water resources in four categories, from category A to D.
Category A is reserved for social water, while classes B, C, and D are based on the level of economic water use, where the user pays for the amount of water used.
An estimated 31 551 companies and individuals are on the spot for engaging in illegal water abstraction activities.
