Coast water crisis deepens as firms fail to pay Sh5.5bn debt

Water service providers in the coastal region owe the Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA) over Sh5.5 billion, putting bulk water supply infrastructure at risk. The unpaid bills accumulated over several years, affecting major supply pipelines and maintenance efforts across six counties.

The region currently faces a combined daily water supply deficit of about 327 million litres, which continues to strain residential and commercial areas. Local distribution companies in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, and Taita Taveta struggle to meet daily demand due to aging infrastructure and distribution losses.

Financial strain at CWWDA limits its capacity to maintain treatment plants and upgrade crucial transmission mains. Bulk water operations require continuous funding for power, chemicals, and system repairs, but unpaid bills from local supply firms hinder scheduled expansion projects.

Efforts by CWWDA to recover the outstanding Sh5.5 billion include payment plan negotiations with county governments. However, slow remittance rates from county-owned water utilities delay maintenance and infrastructure development intended to reduce the growing daily deficit.

The water shortage forces residents in major urban centers like Mombasa to rely on private bowsers and secondary suppliers. Public utility companies face pressure to resolve the financial impasse, as the gap between bulk water delivery and local distribution continues to widen across the coastal belt.