Two Nairobi County Government officers have been interdicted, while three were arrested for directing the dumping at Stima Plaza, the headquarters of Kenya Power, amid the dispute over unpaid bills.
Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security on Monday, Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that Acting Assistant Director, Debt Management James Sankale and Acting Director, Revenue Administration John Ntoiti were responsible for the melee, perceived as the tipping point over the tensions between Kenya Power and Nairobi County.
Sakaja, however, assured the Committee that a corrective course of action was undertaken as the truck that had tipped over was cleared within one hour.
He added that his team undertook a cleanup exercise and fumigated Stima Plaza.
"It is a very unfortunate situation that has us here. The dumping incident was completely uncouth, wrong and it is not something that governments do," Sakaja stated. "The dumping was very primitive. On behalf of the staff, I apologise to the people of Kenya. It will never happen under my watch."
The governor pointed out that they had struck a common ground over the issue and ended the longstanding dispute.
He explained that Kenya Power owed the county Ksh.4.9 billion in unpaid wayleave fees while at the same time, the county government had unpaid electricity bills.
This unfolded when Kenya Power turned off electricity to several county facilities last month, a move that was met with swift retaliation after county officials cut off the water supply to Stima Plaza. Further, county garbage trucks were parked outside Stima Plaza to prevent access.
Following the dispute, officials from Kenya Power, Nairobi County, the Energy Ministry, and the Head of Public Service met in City Hall to resolve the standoff.
“We didn’t go to KPLC in retaliation because of the bills we owe them; we went there because of wayleaves they owe us,” he noted.
"On Friday, we clamped down the services for them to come and say how they will pay us."Further, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja explained that he had directed the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe the matter following the melee.
He noted that three employees, namely Augustine Otieno, Moses Gitari and Alice Okare were arrested and charged with sabotage, robbery with violence and illegal waste disposal.
“During the incident, two KPLC staff members, Barbra Wacika Wachira and David Mauti Kiriago, were arrested by the Nairobi County enforcement officers and later released without being preferred for any charges under Nairobi County by-laws,” Kanja said.
"Additionally, it was reported by David Mauti Kiriago that he was robbed of Ksh.3,000 and a Seiko 5 wristwatch valued at Ksh.15,000."
