The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered an investigation into the illegal dumping of waste at Kenya Power’s premises in Nairobi, escalating tensions over a long-standing financial dispute between the utility company and the Nairobi County Government.
Deputy DPP Jacinta Nyamosi, in a letter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) dated February 26, directed authorities to investigate the matter, citing public health concerns. “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,” Nyamosi stated. The DCI has been given seven days to submit an inquiry report.
The waste dumping incident stems from a commercial dispute over unpaid wayleave fees amounting to KSh 4.9 billion. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that Kenya Power owed the county KSh 4.8 billion, while the county government had outstanding electricity bills owed to the power provider.
The dispute escalated on February 14 when Kenya Power disconnected electricity to several county facilities, prompting swift retaliation from the county government, which cut off water supply to Kenya Power offices. Additionally, garbage trucks were stationed outside Kenya Power’s headquarters, restricting access.
A high-level intervention by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei brought Governor Sakaja and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to the negotiating table. Following discussions, both parties agreed to restore services while handling the financial dispute separately. “We agreed that those commercial disputes would be resolved between Wandayi and me,” Sakaja stated.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula condemned the waste dumping incident and directed the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security to summon Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. Wetangula criticized law enforcement for failing to act on the matter, calling it a case of “publicized criminal behavior.”
“Ole Tongoyo, we shall not allow this country to be reduced to a wild-waste behavior where you disagree with somebody and send goons and hooligans to sort out your mess. That is not Kenya, and you must stop it,” Wetangula asserted.
Committee Chair Gabriel Koshal Tongoyo confirmed that IG Kanja will appear before Parliament next Thursday to explain why no action has been taken against those responsible.
As investigations commence, authorities are under pressure to resolve the crisis and prevent further disruptions that could affect essential services in Nairobi.
