Sakaja denies authorising dumping of garbage at Kenya Power offices
A meeting chaired by Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei was held this morning and the government has scheduled a press conference to announce the resolutions reached
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has denied overseeing and authorising the dumping of garbage at Kenya Power offices by the Nairobi City County government.
The governor stated that he only authorised enforcement measures such as blocking access to Stima Plaza, cutting off water supply and sealing sewer lines after the power company disconnected power at the City for a whole week.
“It is regrettable as that should not be the norm. The garbage was not supposed to be disposed of at Stima Plaza. I condemned the people who did that because the vehicles were to just block the entrance into the building,” Sakaja stated while speaking at a local radio station.
The City administrator said the county officials might have moved a step ahead of his authorisation by disposing of the garbage outside Stima Plaza out of their own will, claiming that it was removed after 30 minutes. However, the garbage was still yesterday evening.
Further, Sakaja accused the power distributor of adding more bills to them, saying that verification was done and the county only owes it Ksh 1.3 billion in unpaid dues and not Ksh 3.1 billion.
On Monday this week, a standoff was witnessed at the Stima Plaza after Nairobi City County staff dumped garbage at their entrance in protest to the power cut at the County Executive headquarters over Ksh 3.1 billion unpaid power bills.
Kenya Power’s General Manager for Commercial Services and Sales, Rosemary Oduor, stated that the power disconnection was due to City Hall’s arrears but was restored after negotiations last Friday.
She said they were shocked to see County garbage trucks dump garbage at their premises and county government officers block a sewer line, resulting in waste spilling into KPLC’s premises.
The City County is also accused of disconnecting the water supply and sewer system to all Kenya Power offices in Nairobi.
City Hall cut internet cables installed on Kenya Power poles by Internet Service Providers, saying it has failed to pay for wayleaves yet it is making money from the venture.
Its actions, however, attracted criticism from city leaders, the public, the National Environment Management Authority and the Communication Authority of Kenya.
A meeting chaired by Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei was held this morning and the government has scheduled a press conference to announce the resolutions reached.
