Outstanding power bills owed to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company are to blame for the current water crisis facing Lodwar residents.

Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai said the county government had paid Sh 2.7 million in power bills to the company to allow residents to access water noting, prior to the payment, the county government owed Sh 7.7 million to the power company.

The governor said delays in the release of exchequer funds to the county by the National Treasury were partly to blame for the crisis, which has seen residents go for days without water. "Water shortage has become a norm to us for the last three months," said Joyce Ekiru, a Lodwar town resident.

The residents are forced to buy water from vendors, leading to a booming business for water vendors, including trucks.