Nairobi County launches cracks down on fiber optic lines

Nairobi City County officials have launched a major crackdown on unauthorized fibre optic cables mounted on power poles along key highways.

The operation began Tuesday morning.

Speaking during the exercise, Nairobi County Revenue Chief Officer Tiras Njoroge said the operation aims to disconnect internet cables installed without county approval.

“Some of these fibre lines are illegal. We have given the affected service providers ample time to pay for hosting them on these poles, but they have refused. They have neither paid for wayleaves nor sought county approval,” Njoroge said.

He further warned internet service providers to ensure that all fibre optic installations on county road reserves have the necessary approvals and that wayleave fees are fully paid.

“We need revenue to operate and deliver services. We have engaged Kenya Power (KPLC) over the Sh4.8 billion debt they owe us. We will take all necessary measures to push them to settle their dues.”

The crackdown comes a day after Kenya Power and the Nairobi County government clashed over unpaid pending bills.

Finance CEC Charles Kerich on Monday highlighted that KPLC leases its power poles and transmission lines to internet service providers (ISPs), allowing them to run fibre-optic cables without paying wayleave fees to the county.

“KPLC now hosts optic cables and internet services. Those green and red cables on their poles? That’s the internet. They are making money, yet they refuse to pay their debt. Who are we supposed to pay ours to?” Kerich said.

In a response to Kerich's sentiments, Kenya Power in a statement on the same day quoted section 223 of the Energy Act, 2019 saying:

"No public body shall charge levies on public energy infrastructure without the consent of the cabinet secretary in writing."

Trouble started last week after Kenya Power disconnected power in some of the City county offices over unpaid bills.

In retaliation, County Secretary Godfrey Akumali confirmed on Monday that they disconnected the company’s sewerage system and water supply to their Stima Plaza in response to the Kenya power move.

As Kenya Power accused Nairobi County of not paying electricity bills amounting to Sh3.1 billion on one hand, the City-County government, on the other, said the utility farm owes them Sh4.83 billion.

Kenya Power General Manager Commercial and Sales Rosemary Oduor in a press briefing on Monday said they disconnected power in line with the law last week.

“We disconnected power in their offices and some of their installations to distress for their bill arrears. When one fails to pay for their bill, the utility can withdraw the service so that they are impressed upon to pay the bill,” she said.

According to Oduor, they had written to the county announcing their intention to disconnect power over unpaid bills.

She said they restored power to the City-County offices and the affected installations on Friday after the City-County wrote back to them expressing commitment to clear the loan.

“They did not communicate to us for a while but on Friday they got back to us confirming that they were making arrangements to pay a proportion of the bill they were supposed to pay,” she said.

“They requested that we restore the power supply so that we continue with that journey together. We restored the power supply on Friday based on the commitment.”

In a rejoinder, Akumali in a press address accused KPLC of refusing to settle the Sh4.83 debt even as he denied that the county owes the utility firm Sh3.1 billion in electricity bills.

Akumali said they have already informed Kenya Power of the amount they owe them as electricity bills and paid a part of it as their commitment to addressing pending arrears.

 “Let it be very clear—KPLC owes us Sh4.8 billion,” Akumali stated.

“Several letters demanding payment—sent in 2017, 2019, and 2020—have gone unanswered. The county’s latest demand, issued on December 6, 2024, puts the outstanding amount at Sh4.83 billion.”

Akumali at the same time asked Kenya Power to sort the pending bills that they owe the county government.

He said they reconnect sewerage and water systems once Kenya Power pays the amount they owe them.

“Let them not play the victim. We’ve been without power for days because they disconnect us, yet we always pay and resolve issues. But when they owe billions, they refuse to pay or even acknowledge the debt. Let them pay, and we will reconnect their sewer and clean up,” Akumali asserted.

But even as the standoff continues, Akumali has expressed commitment to dialogue over the matter.

“We remain open to dialogue as Nairobi City County government and also committed to paying what we owe them,” he said.