The acute water shortage crippling Kilifi County has become a warning on how debt, corruption and weak governance under devolution are undermining essential services across multiple counties.
As taps run dry for thousands of households, official data, audit reports and public statements reveal a pattern of financial mismanagement that mirrors crises unfolding in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Mandera and other regions.
Debt, disconnections and collapsing water supply
Kilifi’s crisis escalated sharply in late 2025 after the Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA) disconnected bulk water supply over unpaid arrears totaling about KSh 3 billion. County records show KSh 1.5 billion was inherited from defunct local authorities, while another KSh 1.5 billion accumulated through unpaid bills by county water firms.
The supply gap is severe. As of late 2025, Kilifi’s daily water demand stood at approximately 265,000 cubic metres, against an available supply of just 65,000 cubic metres. The Baricho wellfield, which produces about 105,273 cubic metres per day for several coastal counties, cannot meet demand, especially during outages. Although a July 2024 upgrade increased Kilifi’s monthly allocation by 30 percent to 1.55 billion litres, repeated disconnections erased those gains.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro defended the county during a November 2025 inspection tour, saying, “When I said the pumps were not working, some people dismissed it as politics. Let us stop playing politics with the lives of our people.”
Water Cabinet Secretary Zachary Muga acknowledged technical failures, stating that “three of the boreholes are currently out of commission… they require standard borehole cleaning.”
Audit flags, corruption claims and political blame
Beyond technical faults, audit findings point to deep financial irregularities. A March 2025 audit flagged KSh 12.1 billion at risk in Kilifi, including KSh 6.09 billion in undocumented pending bills, KSh 672.5 million in unsupported construction payments, and KSh 90.1 million in unaccounted-for imprests. Officials estimate the county loses about KSh 35 million every month through illegal connections and vandalism.
President William Ruto blamed mismanagement, saying on November 10, 2025, “Residents of Kilifi County have been fulfilling their obligation by paying water bills. The issue, however, stems from the funds not being remitted to the authorized companies.
”Former Cabinet minister Aisha Jumwa directly targeted county leadership, declaring, “Governor Mung’aro is a failure if he cannot supply water even when residents pay their bills.”
Despite the crisis, Kilifi’s Own Source Revenue rose by 25.2 percent to KSh 1.513 billion in FY2024/2025, intensifying scrutiny over how funds were prioritised.
A national pattern across counties
Kilifi’s experience mirrors challenges elsewhere. Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company carries supplier debts exceeding KSh 5.3 billion, contributing to chronic shortages in low-income areas. Mombasa and Kwale also owe CWWDA but have avoided total shutdowns by maintaining structured repayment plans—unlike Kilifi, which repeatedly breached agreements.
In northern Kenya, Mandera County illustrates how governance gaps compound climate stress. As of January 2026, Mandera was the only county classified in the “Alarm” drought phase, after receiving just 30–60 percent of normal rainfall in late 2025.
Local crisis
More than 335,000 residents require humanitarian assistance, despite a county budget of about KSh 12 billion.
Governor Mohamed Khalif pushed back against criticism, saying leaders should “look for the share of the trillions that is left with national government” before blaming counties alone.
From the Coast to ASAL regions, the data shows a recurring failure to manage water finances, control corruption and align national-county responsibilities. Kilifi’s dry taps are no longer just a local crisis—they are a national stress test for Kenya’s devolved system.
