NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Assembly’s Energy Committee has stepped in to mediate the escalating dispute between Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and the Nairobi County Government, a standoff that has disrupted critical services and drawn national attention.
The feud erupted after Kenya Power disconnected electricity to several Nairobi County offices on February 14, 2025, over an outstanding bill of Sh3 billion.
In retaliation, City Hall took drastic measures, dumping garbage outside Kenya Power headquarters, blocking sewer lines, and cutting off water supply to the utility firm’s buildings.
As tensions escalated, lawmakers called for urgent intervention, questioning the impact of the dispute on essential services.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Nyatike MP Tom Odege raised concerns about the feud’s ripple effects on public services and Kenya Power employees.
“We saw a very ugly standoff between Kenya Power and the Nairobi County government yesterday. Can the CS assure this committee that the matter is being addressed?” Odege asked.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi assured the committee that he had engaged Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to de-escalate the situation.
“I engaged with Governor Sakaja on Monday to stop the escalation and restore normalcy as we explore ways to resolve the matter amicably,” Wandayi said.
He dismissed claims that Kenya Power owed the county unpaid wayleave fees, citing the Energy Act of 2019, which prohibits counties from imposing levies on public energy infrastructure without the CS’s written consent.
The committee strongly criticized Nairobi County’s retaliatory actions, with Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, the committee chair, calling them “criminal.”
“Disconnect everyone who is not paying bills, even if it means disconnecting governors’ offices. This committee is committed to supporting you in this course,” Musyoka said, urging counties to meet their financial obligations without resorting to disruptions.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has also ordered Nairobi County to clear the garbage dumped at KPLC headquarters, warning that waste disposal should not be weaponized in disputes.
“The county must remove these vehicles and garbage immediately. Waste disposal should not be used as a weapon,” said NEMA’s Environmental Education Director, Ayub Macharia.
Meanwhile, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) condemned Nairobi County’s crackdown on unauthorised fibre optic cables, arguing that it had disrupted businesses and violated national ICT regulations.
Amid the stalemate, the Nairobi County Assembly has proposed a debt swap, suggesting that Kenya Power offset the county’s Sh4.8 billion wayleave fees against City Hall’s Sh1.5 billion electricity bill.
Majority Leader Peter Imwatok defended the county’s actions, insisting KPLC must pay up just as private firms do.
“This is not a negotiation but a matter of accountability. KPLC must pay what it owes, just as other companies like Safaricom do,” Imwatok argued.
However, Kenya Power has rejected the proposal, maintaining that it has no outstanding wayleave payments and condemning the county’s actions as unlawful.
The Kenya Power Pension Fund (KPPF), which owns Stima Plaza, also criticized City Hall’s actions, stating that the disruptions affected multiple businesses operating in the building.
