President William Ruto has praised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for the way he handled the conflict between the Nairobi County Government and Kenya Power after their phone conversation on the issue.
Speaking during a church service in Roysambu on Sunday, Ruto commended Sakaja for being a strong and courageous leader, especially for having the humility to apologize after county officials dumped garbage outside Stima Plaza in retaliation.
The President revealed that he had intervened by calling both Governor Sakaja and Kenya Power officials, instructing them to resolve their standoff immediately. He acknowledged Sakaja for taking his advice seriously and acting promptly to defuse the situation.
“I want to thank Governor Sakaja. Recently, a mistake was made, and I called him alongside other involved parties, telling them to end the dispute right away. I appreciate the Governor for apologizing because it takes a strong and bold leader to admit when something goes wrong,” Ruto stated. “Governor, congratulations for taking responsibility. We must now move forward and work together to build a strong city and a strong nation.”
The President also expressed his full support for Sakaja’s mission to clean up Nairobi and improve its infrastructure, ensuring that the city becomes a true reflection of Kenya’s development. To achieve this goal, Ruto pledged his commitment to working with leaders at all levels, from Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to the Governor himself.
Sakaja’s Apology and Resolution of the Dispute
On Wednesday, February 26, Sakaja issued an official apology to Kenya Power over the garbage dumped outside Stima Plaza, calling the incident unfortunate and assuring the public that the matter would be handled internally.
“It was regrettable that one of our trucks spilled garbage outside Stima Plaza. However, the waste was cleared within 30 minutes, and I assure you that the issue will be addressed internally,” Sakaja stated.
The Governor’s apology marked the end of a three-day standoff between Nairobi County and Kenya Power, which had been triggered by outstanding debts owed by both sides. Reports indicated that Kenya Power had disconnected electricity in several Nairobi County offices due to unpaid electricity bills amounting to Ksh3 billion.
In response, Nairobi County Government officials retaliated by dumping garbage outside Kenya Power’s headquarters, turning on sewage pipes in the vicinity, and clamping several company vehicles over Ksh4.9 billion in unpaid county bills.
Addressing the media after the truce, Sakaja explained the long-standing financial dispute between the two institutions. He noted that, just as Kenya Power takes action when bills remain unpaid, the county government also has legal remedies to recover unpaid dues, including suspending services and clamping properties.
“This issue has been ongoing for a while, and in the past, both parties found ways to resolve it. Just as Kenya Power disconnects electricity when bills are not paid, the county government also has legal measures it can take. These include withdrawing services or even clamping buildings,” Sakaja clarified.
The dispute was finally settled after a high-level negotiation meeting that included Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. Following the successful talks, both parties agreed to move forward amicably and prevent similar conflicts in the future.
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