PREMIUM Coast water crisis deepens as firms fail to pay Sh5.5bn debt The region already has a combined daily water deficit of about 327 million litres. Counties Just now

Summary Article What you need to know: Illegal connections, leakages, ageing infrastructure are squeezing revenue, threatening supplyFour water firms serving Coast counties have been disconnected after failing to clear mounting bulk-water bills.

Unless water companies address illegal connections, leakages, poor metering, ageing infrastructure and weak revenue collection, the region risks falling back into the same cycle — leaving residents to bear the cost through unreliable supplies.

Four water companies serving Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita-Taveta counties have been cut off from bulk water supplies after failing to settle their outstanding bills, deepening a crisis already marked by shortages, ageing infrastructure and unreliable distribution.