Pressure continues to mount on authorities to take action on those responsible for illegally dumping wastes and disrupting the sewer system at the Kenya Power premises in Nairobi.
The move to dump the waste follows a pending
bill dispute between Kenya Power and Nairobi City County.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Wednesday
ordered an investigation into the actions.
In a letter to the Director of Criminal Investigations dated February 26, Deputy DPP Jacinta Nyamosi said the occurrence has caused apprehension among the public and is therefore, a matter of legitimate public interest.
“Left unchecked the issue may snowball into a
serious health hazard that might have multiple repercussions not only to the
area of concern but the capital as a whole.”
“It is, therefore, prudent that
investigations are commenced into the genesis of this matter for a viable
solution to be achieved,” she said.
She told the DCI to liaise with all relevant
stakeholders in the public health, environment and water and sanitation in
respect to the alleged matter and submit the resultant inquiry file within
seven days upon receipt of the letter.
The county government and Kenya Power had agreed on the
way forward over the issue following a high-level meeting convened by Head of
Public Service Felix Koskei.
The meeting, which brought together Nairobi
Governor Johnson Sakaja and Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi, sought
to settle commercial disputes between the two entities, emanating
from over Sh4.9 billion in unpaid wayleave fees owed to the County by
Kenya Power.
Sakaja explained how the situation unfolded
and led to a tense relationship between the two entities.
According to Sakaja, Kenya Power owed the
county Sh4.8 billion in unpaid wayleave fees while at the same time, Nairobi
County had unpaid electricity bills owed to the power entity.
This led to Kenya Power turning off
electricity to several county facilities on February 14, 2025, a move that was
met with swift retaliation after county officials cut water supply to Kenya Power offices.
Garbage trucks were parked outside
Kenya Power's offices to restrict access.
Sakaja said both parties agreed to end their
wrangles and resolve the situation amicably.
He noted that the county officials would
restore the water supply and remove the trucks.
Regarding the unpaid electricity bills and
wayleave fees, the governor explained that the matter would be resolved
separately between his office and Wandayi.
"We agreed those commercial disputes
would be resolved between Wandayi and I. If need be, the Intergovernmental
Technical Relations Committee will be involved," Sakaja stated.
"All government institutions must adhere
to development control regulations. KeNHA before doing any road must seek
approval from the county government."
Elsewhere, National Assembly Speaker Moses
Wetangula ordered the summoning of the Inspector General of Police Douglas
Kanja to shed light on the dumping of garbage outside Stima Plaza on Monday.
Wetangula on Wednesday directed Parliamentary Committee Chairperson Gabriel Koshal Tongoyo to summon IG Kanja after MPs condemned the actions.
The Speaker faulted the police boss for remaining coy on the issue.
“Ole Tongoyo, we shall not allow this country
to be reduced to a wild-waste behaviour where you disagree with somebody and
you send goons and hooligans to go and sort out your mess. That is not Kenya,
and you must stop it. I direct you to summon the IG to find out why no action
has been taken against this publicized criminal behaviour,” said Wetangula.
“There are criminal offences committed under
the Environmental Law, Health Act, Pinal Code and several other acts of
Parliament.”
Tongoyo in his response said the IG would be
required to appear before the House on Thursday next week.
“I am well guided and we are going to have the IG summoned and appear before the Committee next week on Thursday.”
