IG Kanja Summoned Over Nairobi County’s Garbage Dumping Incident
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, has ordered the Committee on Administration and National Security to summon Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. The IG is expected to explain why no legal action has been taken against Nairobi County officials who dumped garbage at Stima Plaza, the headquarters of Kenya Power.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Wetangula strongly condemned the act, terming it as criminal behavior that must be dealt with firmly.
“We cannot allow this country to descend into lawlessness, where people resolve disputes by sending goons and hooligans. That is not the Kenya we want, and such actions must stop immediately,” Wetangula stated.
The Speaker was responding to a proposal by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who called for legal consequences for those involved in the illegal dumping incident.
“I urge the Inspector General of Police to take swift action against the individuals responsible for this act of lawlessness. They must face the full force of the law,” Ichung’wah emphasized.
He also encouraged business owners affected by the garbage dumping to seek compensation through civil lawsuits against the Nairobi County Government.
“I have seen restaurant owners on national television lamenting that they had to close down because customers could no longer visit their establishments due to the stench and unsanitary conditions. These businesses must take legal action to recover their losses,” Ichung’wah added.
Tensions Between Kenya Power and Nairobi County
The debate in parliament followed a tense standoff between the Nairobi County Government and Kenya Power, which lasted for two days. The conflict escalated after Kenya Power disconnected electricity in several county offices due to an unpaid bill of Ksh3.1 billion.
In what appeared to be an act of retaliation, Nairobi County officials allegedly responded by dumping garbage and sewage outside Stima Plaza, disrupting operations at the Kenya Power offices.
Wetangula emphasized that the Inspector General must provide a way forward regarding the multiple offenses committed in the process.
“We will summon the Inspector General to appear before the committee next week. The Nairobi County Government’s actions go beyond a mere public nuisance; they have violated environmental laws, health regulations, the Penal Code, and several other legal provisions. In fact, there are at least ten criminal offenses that can be identified from this single incident,” he declared.
Governor Sakaja Intervenes to End the Conflict
As tensions escalated, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja stepped in to de-escalate the situation. Following a meeting with Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Sakaja announced that both parties had reached an agreement.
“We have had a productive discussion with officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Head of Public Service, and other key stakeholders. We have agreed on several resolutions, and a joint statement will be issued to provide further clarification,” Sakaja stated.
He further confirmed that all hostilities between Kenya Power and the Nairobi County Government had been resolved.
“The first thing we agreed on is that such disputes must be resolved amicably, not through hostile actions. I have given instructions for the removal of garbage trucks and for normal services, including water supply, to resume immediately,” the governor assured.
With the truce in place, all eyes are now on the upcoming parliamentary session, where IG Kanja is expected to provide an official response and outline any actions to be taken against those involved in the incident.
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