By Correspondent
A crisis is looming in critical facilities in Siaya County after the Kenya Power and Lighting Company disconnected electricity over a Sh20m debt owed by the water company.
The affected facilities include the water supply, which serves over 400,000 residents, hospitals, schools, and government offices across Siaya County.
The move has severely disrupted operations at several facilities in the county.
KPLC disconnected electricity to key water production plants.
The power cuts, effected over outstanding electricity bills, have shut down treatment works and booster stations operated by the Siaya Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBOWASCO), halting water production in multiple schemes.
Critical Services Hit
The disconnection has directly affected pumping and treatment operations, crippling the water supply to the Siaya County Referral Hospital, sub-county hospitals, dozens of primary and secondary schools, and several national and county government offices.
“Water is not just a commodity; it is a public health utility,” said a SIBOWASCO official. “Without power, we cannot treat or pump water. This means no water for theatre operations, no water for sanitation in schools, and no supply for households. The risk of waterborne disease outbreaks rises with every hour of downtime.”
Affected areas include parts of Siaya Town, Bondo, Ugunja, Ukwala, Sega, and Asembo, where taps have run dry since the disconnections began. Health facilities have resorted to emergency reserves, while schools face closure if supply is not restored.
The Debt Standoff
KPLC maintains that the disconnections are part of a nationwide revenue recovery drive targeting large defaulters. Water utilities across Kenya have historically struggled with high power costs, which account for up to 40% of operational expenditure. Tariffs, non-revenue water, and delayed disbursements from county governments have left many companies unable to keep up with monthly bills.
SIBOWASCO acknowledges the arrears but argues that water services are essential and should be protected under public interest provisions. “We are in constant engagement with KPLC and the County Government of Siaya to find a sustainable payment plan,” the company noted. “Shutting down production punishes the most vulnerable — patients on dialysis, children in schools, and families.”
Broader Implications
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) classifies water treatment plants as “essential services”, but there is no standing moratorium on disconnections. Stakeholders in the water sector have repeatedly called for a policy framework that ring-fences power for water utilities or provides subsidised tariffs, citing the direct link between water supply and public health.
County health officials warn that prolonged disruption could reverse gains made in cholera and typhoid control. “Hospitals without running water cannot meet infection prevention standards. This is a crisis,” one official said.
Negotiations were ongoing between SIBOWASCO, KPLC’s Western Kenya office, and the Siaya County Government. SIBOWASCO has deployed water bowsers to hospitals as a stopgap, but says this cannot meet full demand.
Residents are being urged to conserve available water and store safely. The County Government of Siaya has called for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Water and the Ministry of Energy to restore supply and agree on a long-term solution.
