Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has absolved himself of any wrongdoing regarding the dumping of rubbish at Kenya Power offices. Sakaja, who apologised for the incident on the grounds that it was not sanctioned by the county, informed lawmakers that he had already interdicted two officers over the matter.
The two, James Sankale (Head of Debt Collection Unit) and John Ntoiti (Acting Revenue Collection Director)—were suspended after preliminary investigations revealed their involvement in the incident.
However, he clarified that although the waste was eventually removed, the foul-smelling rubbish trucks remained on site for four days after the incident.
He stated: “Let me say this from the outset, the dumping incident at Kenya Power was uncouth and wrong. It was not sanctioned by the county. On behalf of the staff, I apologise to the people of Nairobi and assure them that this will never happen again.”
He added: “While the decision to block the entrance of Stima Plaza and suspend county services—including water and sanitation—to Kenya Power was a county government decision supported by the National Rating Act 2024, Section 19, the act of tipping rubbish from one of the trucks was not authorised. Internal processes have been initiated, and two senior officers have since been interdicted as investigations continue.”
Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, Sakaja reiterated that the dumping of waste was not authorised by his office. However, he affirmed that clamping the buildings and vehicles at Kenya Power was a county-sanctioned move to compel the institution to settle its pending Ksh 4.9 billion wayleave bill.
He explained that the decision to block Stima Plaza’s entrance with the garbage trucks was a deliberate city-county government strategy.
Sakaja, who spent most of the session detailing how Kenya Power has frustrated county operations, lamented that although the institution owes counties Ksh 1.5 billion, it must consider the plight of Kenyans before switching off power to critical areas, as it has done in the past. “The waste was cleared, but the trucks remained there,” he said.
He further noted: “We deployed public health officials to the facility, where we carried out a clean-up exercise and fumigation, including the surrounding bushes. The only remaining part is inside the building, and I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to grant us access to complete the process.”
However, MPs led by committee chairperson and Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo pressed Sakaja to explain why the smelly garbage trucks had remained at the scene hours after the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director-General, Mamo Mamo, told the committee that the trucks involved in the incident were not licensed by the authority.
Tongoyo remarked: “You claim the garbage was removed within 30 minutes, yet Kenya Power went to court to compel you to clear it.”
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin, who were also present, said investigations are ongoing. They revealed that two Kenya Power employees, who were detained by county enforcement officers during the incident, were released without charge.
Kanja condemned the act, stating: “What happened that day was barbaric, unacceptable, and criminal in nature. It should never happen in this country.”
He added: “If not for this incident, the DCI and I would have been in Samburu County today to oversee security matters, while my deputy, Gilbert Masengelli, was scheduled to accompany the General Service Unit Commandant to Baragoi for a security assessment. Instead, we are here.”
Amin disclosed that investigations may be concluded within the next week and that they had summoned several county officials, including Nairobi Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria, Director of Environment John Malawi, Chief Officer for Revenue Administration and Acting ICT Infrastructure Tiras Njoroge, County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning Charles Kerich, County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maurine Njeri, and Nairobi Water Management Team leader Nahashon Muguna.
Additionally, three county employees—Augustine Otieno Osore (driver), Moses Gitari, and Alice Okari (machine operator)—have been arrested and will face charges, including sabotage, robbery with violence, illegal waste disposal, and obstruction.
Amin expressed concern that the incident involved serious crimes, revealing that three Kenya Power officials—Anthony Mganda, Barbra Wacika Wachira, and David Mauti Kiriago—had reported to Parklands Police Station that they were arrested by county officials and had valuables stolen.
Mauti reported being robbed of Ksh 3,000 and a Seiko 5 wristwatch worth Ksh 15,000 during the standoff. Barbra claimed her iPhone 12 was stolen and that she was forced to pay Ksh 2,000 for its return.
“This was an unfortunate incident that tarnished the image of the Nairobi County Government and the country while also exposing the public to a health hazard. We are concerned that serious crimes were committed, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Amin concluded.
