Sakaja’s team clean own ‘shit’ at Stima Plaza amid widespread condemnation
After deploying refuse laden garbage trucks, dumping and staging a truck blockade full of decaying and spilling waste, Sakaja’s office sent his team to clean-up, fumigate and sanitise the mess
Days after the Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja’s led Nairobi county government treated the country to episodes of garbage edition by dumping decomposing waste outside Stima Plaza sparked by a Sh4.8billion billing row with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), yesterday, City Hall decided to clean own mess.
After deploying refuse laden garbage trucks, dumping and staging a truck blockade full of decaying and spilling waste, Sakaja’s office sent his team to clean-up, fumigate and sanitise the mess.
Although the government manifested a knee-jerk reaction calling for the arrest of those responsible after widespread public outrage following an apparent display of impunity and disdain for the rule of law, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said some arrest have been made in connection to the incident.
Sakaja’s personnel under the Green Nairobi initiative were yesterday deployed with fumigation machines, water boozers, and cleaning equipment following a restoration order by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Governor Sakaja, who addressed the issue following a high-level intervention by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, confirmed that he and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi had agreed to work on resolving the matter.
He also said they “only intended to block” Stima Plaza and not dump garbage, a confirmation his office was aware and authorised the audacious act.
The exercise was presided over by Nairobi Public Health Chief Officer Tom Nyakaba.
City Hall had come under attack for dumping waste at the site as the two entities clashed over the payment of pending bills.
Nyakaba explained that the fumigation exercise was a standard procedure aimed at strengthening the county’s relationship with Kenya Power.
The operation included clearing bushes, unclogging sewers, and fumigating the compound.
Nairobi county had been criticized for endangering the health of residents by dumping waste at Stima Plaza, prompting the courts to order the immediate removal of the waste.
“It is our duty to ensure that people live and work in a clean environment. Today, we are here at Stima Plaza to assure occupants that their surroundings are safe and hygienic,” Nyakaba stated.
The cleanup, scheduled for the weekend when foot traffic is lower, saw Green Army teams fumigate both the interior and exterior of the building, while water boozers with treated water washed down roads in Ngara.
“This is part of an ongoing citywide exercise to clean up Nairobi, now extending into estates in a coordinated manner. Our teams are also deployed in various parts of the city today,” Nyakaba added.
City Hall termed the move as commitment to the resolution of a long-standing dispute between Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) over unpaid wayleave fees amounting to Sh4.8 billion and electricity bills owed by the county.
“We have agreed to take up the issue with the CS and find a lasting solution,” Sakaja told reporters in a solo press conference following the meeting convened by Koskei.
“An unfortunate incident occurred where one of our trucks tipped garbage in the area. That was not the intention, and within 30 minutes, we had cleared it. We are investigating the matter internally,” Sakaja assured.
