Governors tell off water board over Sh1.2B bill

The tussle over water management at the Coast deepened yesterday after five governors dismissed the Coast Water Services Board (CWSB)'s threat to disconnect supply over high debts.

CSWB claims the six Coast counties owe it Sh1.2 billion, figures disputed by the counties who in turn accuse the board of refusing to submit to an independent audit old debts inherited from defunct municipal and county councils.

Yesterday, the governors said CWSB had no authority to disconnect the supply to any county, given that the debts  accrued from the defunct councils and municipalities.

Forensic audit

They said debts accrued before March 2013 should first be reviewed by the Transition Authority and subjected to a proper forensic audit by relevant bodies to ascertain their authenticity.

Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), John Mruttu (Taita Taveta), Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Hussein Dado (Tana River) resolved, after a meeting at Vipingo Ridge, that they would not pay debts accumulated by the defunct councils.

"CWSB has no authority to disconnect the supply of water to any county over debts owed by the defunct councils and municipalities. All debts before March 27, 2013 have to be reviewed by the Transition Authority and have to undergo proper forensic audit," said the governors in a joint statement.

CWSB has threatened to cut off supply to Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta next week, saying its operations were grinding to a halt due to the huge debts owed by the counties.