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Pragmatism as an approach for decision-making: Why two Kenyan water utilities opted for pre-paid water dispensers

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  • Schwartz, Klaas
  • Boakye-Ansah, Akosua

Abstract

Since the late 1990's a growing number of urban water utility providers in Africa have adopted pre-paid water dispensers as a service delivery option for low-income areas within their service areas. Meanwhile, the use of such pre-paid technology for water delivery especially for the low-income consumer has been subject to debate in the water services sector. While one stream of literature mainly explores the potentials of the technology, a second stream focuses on the limits such technology presents, particularly for the low-income consumer. While acknowledging the contributions of both streams of literature on the debate on pre-paid dispensers in water services, this article explores why managers of water utilities adopt pre-paid dispensers for their operations in the low-income areas and how the technology is implemented in practice. Through a case study of two Kenyan cities (Nakuru and Kisumu), this article argues that in opting for pre-paid dispenser, the water utilities adopt a pragmatic approach, accepting solutions they may consider sub-optimal but which, at a particular moment and within a given context, may be the best they can do.

Suggested Citation

  • Schwartz, Klaas & Boakye-Ansah, Akosua, 2023. "Pragmatism as an approach for decision-making: Why two Kenyan water utilities opted for pre-paid water dispensers," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:84:y:2023:i:c:s0957178723001352
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2023.101623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Berg, Sanford V & Mugisha, Silver, 2010. "Pro-poor water service strategies in developing countries: promoting justice in Uganda’s urban project," MPRA Paper 32888, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Akosua Sarpong Boakye-Ansah & Klaas Schwartz & Margreet Zwarteveen, 2019. "From Rowdy Cartels to Organized Ones? The Transfer of Power in Urban Water Supply in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(5), pages 1246-1262, December.
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