Authority asks coast water bodies to pay Sh165m debt

More than a million residents may be cut off from piped water supply if the Coast Water Services Board fails to settle a Sh165 million debt it owe the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA).

According to WRMA chief executive officer Philip Olum, the debt has accrued over the years due to non-payment of bills for water usage. The board supplies more than 150,000 cubic metres of water in bulk to water companies in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties and then the companies retails the commodity to consumers.

Baricho Water Works in Kilifi county alone supplies 90,000 cubic metres of water to consumers in Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Mombasa towns.

Last year, WRMA cut supply at Baricho Water Works in Kilifi county after the Coast Water Services Board failed to clear over Sh100 million debt.

WATER LAW

The Water Law states that users such as regional water service boards and irrigation boards are supposed to pay five cent per cubic metre of water used to WRMA.

Yesterday, Mr Olum, said the authority was facing financial constraints because water and irrigation boards among other users have failed to clear Sh1.9 billion debt.

The Coast Water Service Board, he added, owe WRMA Sh165 million, National Irrigation Board has not paid Sh65 million debt while other boards had been taken to court for non-payment of the revenue.

In order to recover the debt, Mr Olum said the authority had been forced to take the boards and other water users to court.

“Through legal means, WRMA has been able to recover some debts. The Kenya Electricity Generating Company has been paying Sh17.5 million per month in order to clear its debt,” he said.

Mr Olum said the authority has also been forced to cut supply to some regional water boards for failing to settle their water bills.

Supply was later restored after the regional board reached an agreement with WRMA on debt repayments.