A potential health hazard in Nairobi is looming over a feud between the city county and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC).
As the feud entered the second day on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, raw sewage was flowing outside the Kenya Power offices at Electricity House in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), posing a health risk.
The Nairobi County Water and Sewerage Company blocked sewage pipes from Kenya Power’s offices both at Electricity House and Stima Plaza in Ngara.
As a result, Kenya Power has asked a section of staff to work from home.
Videos seen by K24 Digital showed the raw sewage flowing outside the offices with pedestrians walking along the pavements struggling to navigate their way by jumping over the dirty water, and changing their routes.
The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) party leader Martha Karua has called out Governor Johnson Sakaja over the incident, terming it as criminal.
Karua in a statement shared via her official X account on Tuesday, February 25, said that the raw sewer is endangering the lives of the Nairobi residents, urging the city county to pay the electricity bills and solve the standoff with Kenya Power.
“This is criminal @SakajaJohnson @GovernorNairobi you are endangering the health of all Nairobians pay @NairobiCounty1 power bills and stop the delinquency,” Karua stated.
This is criminal @SakajaJohnson @GovernorNairobi you are endangering the health of all Nairobians pay @NairobiCounty1 power bills and stop the delinquency @KenyaGovernors https://t.co/YgDFDaWxKn
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) February 25, 2025
City Hall standoff
The standoff between the two entities was triggered after the county government blocked the sewer line, resulting in waste spilling into KPLC’s premises.
This action was reportedly in response to the utility company’s decision to disconnect the power supply over an unpaid debt owed by the County Government of Nairobi.
This has since been disputed by the county government, with the finance director dismissing claims of a Ksh3 billion debt accumulated over a period of years.
Apart from blocking the sewer line, City Hall dumped garbage outside the Kenya Power premises, and on Tuesday, February 25, several garbage trucks were stationed outside the utility company offices at Stima Plaza.
The action prompted the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to order the Nairobi City County to remove the garbage trucks stationed at the premises of KPLC in Nairobi.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, NEMA’s Environmental Education director, Ayub Macharia, said that the retaliatory measures by City Hall violate environmental laws.
Macharia further noted that the neighboring residents and businesses have been unfairly affected by the bad smell coming from the garbage trucks.
“The smell does not respect boundaries. There are residential houses around here, there are eateries, some hotels, and some business premises that are affected. Although we heard of a conflict, other parties who are not part of the conflict are also being affected. That is why we have come here to uphold the rule of law. What we are doing now as NEMA is issuing an order to the Nairobi County government to do three things, and one of them is to ensure that those vehicles are removed from these sites. This is not a waste disposal site,” he said.
Licenses
He further directed the City County government to acquire licenses from NEMA, arguing that the environmental aspect of waste management is the work of the authority.
Macharia also ordered Nairobi County to cover the garbage trucks properly when moving in the streets to prevent possible spillover.
“When you look at that waste, it is not carried properly. Those vehicles are not covered, and when they move on our streets, the waste will be thrown by the wind and spill on the streets. They should also acquire licenses from NEMA so that we have a contract with them. The environmental aspect of waste management is the work of NEMA,” Macharia said.
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