We're sorry for dumping garbage at Stima Plaza, says governor

The Standard established that a meeting at Harambee House chaired by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei put pressure on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to clear the garbage outside Stima Plaza.

Sources in the meeting Wednesday also attended by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and ICT PS John Tanui, told The Standard that Sakaja was taken to task to explain his actions.

After the meeting, at the doorsteps of his office, Sakaja offered an apology. “Personally, I was not happy. The lorries were supposed to just block access to the building, which is something the law allows but not dumping garbage there. That is why the garbage was picked shortly after,” he said.

While defending the enforcement measures against Kenya Power, Sakaja admitted that the garbage dumping was not sanctioned, as he reprimanded county officials responsible. “We instructed our teams to block access, not dump garbage. That is not how the county operates, and corrective action has been taken,” he said.

The statement came after National Environment Management Authority (Nema) condemned the county’s actions, ordering an immediate removal of the garbage. “The smell does not respect boundaries. There are hotels, eateries, and business premises affected,” said Ayub Macharia, Nema’s Environmental Education Director.

“Whatever dispute the county has with Kenya Power should not result in illegal waste dumping. We are issuing an order for immediate removal.”

And yesterday, Kenya Power sued Nairobi County over the unlawful dumping of garbage at its headquarters in Stima Plaza and disconnecting essential services, including water and sewer systems following debts bills.

The utility firm filed the case at the Milimani High Court. While seeking orders compelling Nairobi City County to take immediate action to remedy the situation, the company through lawyer Ochieng Jude argued that the actions caused serious operational setbacks, with staff and tenants unable to access the premises.

Jude told the court that the conflict lies in an outstanding debt of Sh1.68 billion owed by the City County Government to Kenya Power.

According to Kenya Power, the water supply to the company’s headquarters and several other properties was disconnected without any prior warning on the evening of February 21, 2025.

And following the meeting chaired by Mr Koskei, Mr Sakaja said the county had removed the trucks blocking entrance to Stima Plaza, and that they would restore disrupted services, including water supply. “We have agreed to end the brawl, after we sat down, talked and agreed,” Sakaja said, adding: “We had agreed on how we will pay our debt in instalments which dates back so many years. We have to pay debt from the past and the current one.”

Speaking yesterday, Sakaja said the National Rating Act 2024 which was signed into law in 2024 by President Ruto gives him powers to take action on rate defaulters. “The Act stipulates the actions that can be taken by the county government. When you don’t pay electricity KPLC disconnects you and the county government has remedies,” said Sakaja.

Some of these actions include removal of county services and clamping a building.