TAITA TAVETA – The Taita Taveta County Government has strongly refuted claims that its local supplier, Tavevo Water and Sewerage Company, was disconnected due to unpaid debts owed to the Coast Water Works Development Agency. Addressing the press on Thursday, Water County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Granton Mwandawiro criticized the agency for making a unilateral decision to cut the supply, emphasizing that the county has consistently honored its monthly bill of Sh5.2 million over the past two years.
Mwandawiro clarified that the county government has not only cleared its outstanding dues but has actually overpaid the bulk provider. Detailed financial records show that Taita Taveta paid Sh72.62 million in the 2024/2025 financial year and Sh69.4 million in the subsequent year both figures surpassing the required threshold. Given these figures, Mwandawiro maintained that there is no financial or logical justification for disconnecting Tavevo’s supply.
The CECM further faulted Coast Water for carrying out the disconnection without issuing an advance notice, a direct breach of the agreement signed between the two entities in 2024. He stated that if the agency sought to review and increase the payable rates, it should have initiated formal negotiations to reach a mutual consensus rather than resorting to arbitrary shutoffs.
In light of the escalation, Mwandawiro urged the agency to adhere to a court order mandating the immediate restoration of the water supply. The ongoing standoff has triggered an acute water crisis across Voi, Taveta, and neighboring areas, severely disrupting households, educational institutions, and local businesses as thousands of residents face severe shortages.
