The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) has issued a directive requiring all small-scale water service providers across Kenya to register with the board by April 28, 2025. After this deadline, unregistered water kiosks and other small-scale water operations will be shut down.
The directive, announced on Tuesday, March 18, targets various unregistered operators including:
- Community water projects
- Private water suppliers
- Gated community service providers
- NGO-led water projects
- Water kiosk operators
- Water tanker services
- Private borehole operators
This registration requirement aligns with Section 85(1) of the Water Act 2016, which mandates that all water service providers must operate under a license issued by WASREB.
Registration is free and must be completed online through the Small-Scale Service Providers (SSSPs) Data Collection link on the WASREB website. The board has specified that hard copy submissions will not be accepted.
WASREB’s Acting Chief Executive Officer emphasized that registration is essential for:
- Maintaining quality standards
- Ensuring cost efficiency
- Upholding customer service standards
- Protecting consumer health and safety
- Updating the board’s database on water service access
The board has warned that failure to register by the deadline could result in penalties, as operating without a license constitutes an offense under Kenyan law.