Nairobi hotels will soon be compelled to give free drinking water to their clients if a new proposal tabled before the Nairobi County Assembly sails through.
In the Assembly's order paper published on Thursday, March 7, Roysambu Member of County Assembly (MCA) Sospeter Mumbi is pushing the county government to draft regulations which will require all restaurants and hotels to offer free drinking water services to their clients.
He explained that there were still hotels and restaurants that did not provide free water despite the right to water and sanitation being enshrined in the Constitution.
"Concerned that most hotels and restaurants do not provide free clean drinking water to their customers, this Assembly urges the County Executive to develop regulations compelling hotels and restaurants across the County to provide free and clean drinking water for clients at their premises," reads the order paper.
"The Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for the right of every person to access clean and safe water in adequate quantities. Further, Paragraph 11 (b) of Part Two of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for County public works and services including water and sanitation services as a function of the County Government.
Most hotels in the city charge their customers for water which is sold in mineral water bottles.
Further, the MCA is also proposing to have Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration restore and revamp drinking water outlets that have been erected in parts of the Central Business District and around the county.
He noted that the taps should have running water and enable city residents to get access to clean water easily.
"Concerned that such designated areas stalled and are no longer in operation, this Assembly urges the County Executive to rehabilitate the existing stalled public points designed to provide free and clean drinking water to the residents of Nairobi City County," read the order paper in part.
During the establishment of the Nairobi City plan, there were water outlets that were erected in various parts of the CBD to allow Kenyans to get free access to drinking water.
This is also a common practice in some cities across the globe.
The motion will be moved by the MCA on Tuesday, March 12, 2023.
