Nairobi county governor Johnson Sakaja //Photo Courtesy
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has disclosed that Kenya Power owes the county government Sh4.8 billion in unpaid wayleaves for the passage of power and internet cables.
Speaking outside City Hall on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Sakaja said the court had already ruled that Kenya Power must pay the county for the wayleaves it has been using.
Despite the ruling, Sakaja stated that Kenya Power is yet to comply
“They owe us Sh4.8 billion for using the county wayleaves used for passage of power and internet cables. They are supposed to pay us and the court directed so,” the governor explained.
The governor acknowledged that the county also owes Kenya Power Sh1.5 billion but explained that they had agreed on a settlement plan, with Nairobi County paying the amount in monthly installments of Sh100 million, adding that despite the agreement, Kenya Power went ahead and disconnected power to county offices.
He said that they had agreed that no power disconnections would take place since the county, like other government entities, experiences delays in fund disbursement. However, the power company disregarded this and cut off electricity at City Hall. In response, the county government took enforcement measures, including blocking access to Kenya Power’s offices at Stima Plaza, cutting off its water supply and sealing sewer lines.
“And we agreed that they won’t come to disconnect power in county offices since we’re also a government and we experience delay in funds disbursement, but they came last week and did the opposite,” he said.
Sakaja clarified that county law allows such actions when a client fails to pay for services. He stated that the county issued a 60-day demand notice to Kenya Power, which was ignored, prompting the enforcement measures. He admitted that some county staff had dumped garbage at Stima Plaza’s entrance but said this was not authorized and was later corrected.
To resolve the dispute, Sakaja revealed that a meeting had been called involving the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Kenya Power officials, and the Nairobi County team.
On Monday, the dispute escalated as Kenya Power accused Nairobi County of failing to pay electricity bills amounting to Sh3.1 billion, while the county insisted that the power company owed them Sh4.83 billion.
Kenya Power General Manager for Commercial and Sales Rosemary Oduor defended the company’s actions, stating that the law allows the utility to disconnect power for non-payment. She said Kenya Power had notified the county of its intention to cut off electricity.
Nairobi County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, in retaliation , confirmed that they had disconnected sewerage and water services at Kenya Power’s offices in response to the power disconnection. Raw sewage was seen flowing outside the company’s Nairobi CBD offices as the standoff continued.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Energy on Tuesday, February 25, 2025,Energy and Petroleum Cabinet secretary Opiyo Wandayi dismissed claims that Kenya Power owed the county money. He cited the Energy Act of 2019, which states that no public body shall charge levies on public energy infrastructure without written consent from the Cabinet Secretary. He insisted that no such consent had been granted, making Nairobi County’s claims illegal.
Committee Chair Vincent Musyoka condemned the county’s actions, describing them as criminal. He urged all counties to fulfill their financial obligations to Kenya Power without resorting to retaliatory measures. He emphasized that the committee supports Kenya Power in disconnecting electricity from any entity failing to pay, including governors’ offices.
The dispute also drew the attention of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which ordered Nairobi County to remove garbage trucks stationed at Stima Plaza.
NEMA’s Environmental Education Director, Ayub Macharia, said the county’s retaliatory measures violated environmental laws and affected neighboring businesses and residents. He directed the county to remove the waste immediately.
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