ADVERT 
Siaya County is facing a full-blown public service crisis after Kenya Power rejected a proposed debt settlement plan, prolonging a blackout that has now paralyzed hospitals, crippled water supply, and thrown essential services into chaos.
Fresh details from insiders directly involved in negotiations contradict earlier reports by SIAYA TODAY of a breakthrough, confirming that no agreement has been reached to restore electricity.
A senior county government official disclosed that Kenya Power’s Siaya County Manager, Eng. Jagongo, turned down a structured repayment proposal tabled by the county.
The offer included a one-off payment of KSh 14 million followed by monthly instalments of KSh 6 million until the outstanding bill is cleared. Despite the proposal, power restoration was declined.
“We had a session with Eng. Jagongo and Eng. Kaudo yesterday, and they refused to restore electricity despite the county’s offer,” a senior engineer from Siaya-Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBOWASCO) confirmed. “There is no agreement in place.”
The power outage has brought water production to a complete halt, with the Bondo and Abura water treatment plants fully paralyzed due to lack of electricity.
As a result, SIBOWASCO has been unable to pump or treat water, cutting off supply to homes, hospitals, and institutions across the county.
The utility is now losing an estimated KSh 500,000 daily in revenue, a blow that officials warn could further undermine any future repayment plan.
“This situation is not sustainable. Without power, there is no water—and without revenue, recovery becomes even harder,” the engineer said.
The impact on healthcare has been immediate and severe. Major hospitals are reportedly discharging patients prematurely as water shortages cripple operations.
Medical staff describe a system under strain and leadership under scrutiny.
“I am not political,” said a medic who spoke on condition of anonymity, “but I don’t believe the governor is in control of the situation. Even if this were sabotage, is this really the time to be traversing the country while hospitals are turning away patients due to lack of water?”
The crisis comes just days before schools reopen following the half-term break, raising fears of sanitation challenges and possible disruptions to learning.
With no water supply in many areas, education stakeholders warn that institutions may struggle to operate safely.
Political pressure is mounting on the county administration, with leaders openly criticizing the handling of the crisis.
Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Atandi faulted the governor for neglecting urgent local concerns.
“It is unacceptable for the governor to be roaming across the country while residents of Siaya are suffering without water and essential services,” he said.
As negotiations remain deadlocked, Siaya County stands at a dangerous crossroads. The prolonged standoff highlights deeper issues of financial management, inter-agency relations, and crisis response within devolved governments.
For residents, however, the reality is stark: taps are dry, hospitals are strained, and the lights remain off.
Until a deal is reached, Siaya’s paralysis shows no signs of easing.
