By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, April 22, 2026 - The Water Service Regulatory Authority has placed the Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO) under a special regulatory regime in a bid to improve service delivery and financial management.
In a public notice, the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) said that the company will be under the regime for the next six months.
During this period, WASREB said it aims to address longstanding governance challenges at the company by strengthening internal controls.
For the next six months, MOWASSCO will be required to table weekly income and expenditure, alongside bank reconciliation statements, water quality reports, and operations and maintenance updates.
The company should also submit monthly water quality reports and progress reports detailing steps taken to address issues raised in previous WASREB inspection findings.
Furthermore, WASREB representatives will attend all board and committee meetings of the company to reinforce oversight.
“Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO) is a water service provider (WSP) licensed by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) to provide water and sewerage services to residents of Mombasa within Mombasa County as delineated in the License,” the company stated.
“PURSUANT to powers granted to WASREB under section 101 (1)(a), (c) and 102(1)(2)(3)(a) of the Water Act 2016, and in order to – (a) Safeguard the progressive realization of the right to water to the consumers within the service area designated for this WSP within Mombasa County,” it added.
The management of water services in the coastal region has, in recent months, come under scrutiny from county governments and the public, particularly due to frequent water disruptions and poor infrastructure.
In February, a section of Coast governors called for the disbandment of the Coast Water Board to its failure to ensure adequate water supply in the region.
The county chiefs included Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, and Kwale Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo, who branded the board as incompetent.
According to them, despite county governments raising concerns and allocating funds to improve the region’s water supply, the board is still reluctant to respond to the crisis.
"We have also raised these issues with the coastal waters, and they have always said that they will repair, but nothing is being done. Now the drought that we have has made the situation worse, and our people are suffering," Mung'aro said on February 10.
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