In a stunning revelation that has left Nairobi’s residents and lawmakers stunned, two senior officials from the Nairobi County Government were suspended after their alleged involvement in a brazen act of illegal garbage dumping.
The incident unfolded outside Stima Plaza last Monday, sending shockwaves through the political corridors and leading to immediate action from Governor Johnson Sakaja.
On March 3, 2025, Governor Sakaja appeared before the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, chaired by Gabriel Tongoyo and Dido Raso, to address the escalating tension between Nairobi City County and Kenya Power (KPLC).
Sakaja revelation to MPs comes even after his administration over the weekend were engaged in a clean up exercise at the Kenya power offices.
The showdown between the two entities began when Kenya Power disconnected water supplies to several Nairobi County properties, including Stima Plaza, on the evening of February 21, 2025, over an outstanding debt of Sh 1.68 billion owed by the county government.
Despite Kenya Power maintaining that there were no outstanding water bills for these properties, the disconnection caused a rift between the two parties.
Kenya Power revealed that this action was a response to unpaid bills, but things took a darker turn when the Nairobi County Government retaliated.
On the morning of February 24, 2025, between 7:30 am and 9:30 am, a shocking act of defiance occurred.
Toxic, untreated, and hazardous garbage was dumped outside the entrance to Stima Plaza.
The stench from the waste quickly turned the premises into an unbearable environment for staff and customers alike, making it virtually impossible to conduct business.
Health and environmental concerns arose as the hazardous waste threatened the safety of everyone in the vicinity.
Kenya Power, understandably outraged, accused the Nairobi County Government of orchestrating this illegal and unsanitary act.
The company also raised alarm over the potential long-term effects on the surrounding environment.
Further compounding the situation, Kenya Power revealed that, as part of this ongoing dispute, the Nairobi County Government had illegally impounded ten emergency service vehicles belonging to the power utility.
These included critical trucks and ambulances that were seized between 7:30 am and 9:30 am on the same day the garbage was dumped.
These vehicles, vital for emergency response, remain under the control of Nairobi City County, further intensifying the already fraught relationship between the two parties.
Governor Sakaja, in his statement before the committee, confirmed that the two senior officials from the county’s revenue and debt collection department had been suspended.
The officers, accused of directing the illegal garbage dumping, are now under investigation, with Sakaja emphasizing that the actions taken were unacceptable and did not reflect the values of the Nairobi County Government.
“I have taken swift action to ensure accountability. This kind of behavior is not tolerated in my administration. The environment and public health are not bargaining chips in any dispute, and the officers responsible will be held to account,” Sakaja said, showing his commitment to clean governance.
However, the Nairobi County’s response to Kenya Power’s actions had escalated beyond mere administrative disagreements.
The move to disrupt Kenya Power’s operations, especially by impounding emergency service vehicles, had sparked uproar across Nairobi.
Many saw it as a reckless and disproportionate response that endangered lives, rather than seeking a fair resolution to the debt dispute.
The feud between Nairobi County and Kenya Power has drawn in other stakeholders, including senior law enforcement officers and government officials, who were present at the meeting.
Police IG Douglas Kanja, DCI Director Mohamed Amin, and other senior figures were in attendance to help navigate this complex issue, which now intertwines both environmental and security concerns.
The standoff has put a spotlight on the city’s debt woes and the tense relationship between local authorities and utility companies.
Kenya Power’s disconnection of electricity to Nairobi City Hall on February 14, 2025, further highlighted the severity of the debt crisis, and it appears this battle is far from over.
