Kenya Power-Nairobi County clash over unpaid bills
Business
By
Sharon Wanga
| Feb 24, 2025
Kenya Power has refuted claims of owing Nairobi County Sh.3 billion for wayleave charges after the garbage disposal incident on Monday morning.
The Nairobi City County had stormed Stima Plaza dumping truckloads of garbage at the entrance.
Responding to the incident, Kenya Power denied owing the county instead revealing an outstanding electricity supply debt.
"On the claim that we owe the County money arising from wayleaves charges, we wish to state that Section 223 of the Energy Act, 2019 expressly states that 'No public body shall charge levies on public energy infrastructure without the consent of the Cabinet Secretary in writing' stated the power company.
The Power company criticised the incident terming it "unethical, unprofessional, and unlawful actions".
READ MORE
Insurers caught flat-footed ahead of IRA's 24-hour cyber breach deadline
Ruto dreams of a 'new Singapore', but not when counties hold us back
Expanding access to justice through reforms
Parliament moves to end decades-long registration nightmare
Private universities under Sh 48.8 billion pending bills
Government websites hit in major cyberattack
Somali banks on Port of Mogadishu to push 24hr-economy plan
Inside Sharjah's 'Poetry Pharmacy', where healing comes in verses, not pills
Instead, the Kenya power accused the county of owing them Sh.3 billion which has accumulated over the years.
Efforts to engage the county on outstanding debt payment plans proved futile as the debt has increased by Sh.1.3 billion in two years.
"After exhausting all avenues to recover the outstanding debt as outlined in the Energy Act 2019, we proceeded to disconnect the power supply to several county facilities on February 14, 2025," Kenya Power added.
Through discussions, the county committed to pay Sh.110 million to settle old debt and current bills every month.
The fracas between the two entities began on Friday evening when officers from the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company allegedly disconnected the water supply to Stima Plaza, Electricity House Nairobi, Parklands Substation, and Roysambu depot.
Additionally, the officers blocked the sewer lines at Stima Plaza and Electricity House.