Sh1.3b water debts by defunct municipal authorities haunt Coast counties

The three Coastal counties owing a billion shillings in water bills to the Coast Water Services Board must pay or live with the shortages.

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa on Tuesday said while an amicable solution was being worked on, the county governments should be prepared to settle the bills.

“We had a meeting last year with the six governors whose counties have been affected by these bills and they agreed on how to pay. Three of them however failed to honour their undertakings hence the recent fall out with the board,” said Mr Wamalwa.

The Water CS was speaking after he presided over the opening of a three-day Water, Electricity and Power Expo at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.

SUPPLY RESTORED

He said Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties had their supply restored after the latest disruptions from the payment row between the Coast Water Services Board and the county administrations.

Last year, a four-day water crisis  hit counties at the Coast after the main water lines to Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale were cut over the outstanding debt.

The parastatal is demanding at least Sh1.3 billion from Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta and Kilifi.

(READ: Fresh water crisis hits Coast region over Sh1.2bn debt)

The bill was incurred by the defunct municipalities and inherited by county governments.

In August, Mr Wamalwa had to intervene after another disconnection caused a similar water crisis. He asked the board to reconnect the water and allow negotiations on how to settle the bill.

Mombasa was required to pay Sh608 million, while Kilifi had a debt of Sh288 million.

Taita-Taveta needed to part with Sh121 million, while Kwale owed the parastatal more than Sh140 million.

Malindi Sub-County was required to part with at least Sh140 million in the water arrears.