- Kenya Power moved to court after the county dumped garbage at their Stima Plaza offices over KSh 2.9 million electricity bill row
- In court documents seen by TUKO.co.ke, the company accused the county of acting inhumanly
- It wants the court to among others issue an order directing the county to remove the said garbage the action declared unconstitutional
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Nairobi: A row between Kenya Power and the Nairobi county government over KSh 2.9 million electricity debt is now headed to the courts.
The row recently turned ugly after the county dumped garbage and raw sewage at Kenya Power’s Stima Plaza headquarters in Nairobi.
Kenya Power has now taken legal action against the Johnson Sakaja-led administration.
In an application filed under a certificate of urgency, Kenya Power has termed the move barbaric and inhumane.
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The company, in court documents seen by TUKO.co.ke said the garbage had affected the health of their staff. It also accused the county of unjustifiably confiscating 10 of their vehicles.
“…the respondents’ actions, which are both barbaric and inhumane, have adversely exposed the over 4,000 petitioner’s members of staff and innocent tenants accommodated at the petitioner’s premises as well as the general public to detrimental health complications,” Kenya Power said in the application.
The company has also contested a decision by Nairobi county government to disconnect water at its Stima Plaza offices.
It argues that the decisions had left hundreds of its workers and tenants who include medical clinics, financial institutions, law firms, insurance agencies counting loses and in frustrations.
Was garbage at Stima Plaza removed?
However, the Nairobi county government through lawyer Duncan Okatch argued that the trucks were removed on the night of Tuesday, February 25, and that a meeting chaired by Head of Public Service, Felix Kosgei, would help resolve the issue.
“The court will give directions at 3pm,” said Justice Anne Omollo.
What orders is Kenya Power seeking in case against Nairobi county?
Kenya Power is seeking among others an order compelling the county to forthwith collect and remove the dumped garbage at all the entrance of their Stima Plaza offices and the removal of county trucks and motor vehicles obstructing free movement into and out of the premises.
The company is also seeking a declaration to be issued that the conduct and actions of Nairobi county contravened the constitution and infringed upon their fundamental rights.
In addition, it wants the court to issue a permanent injunction restraining the county from dumping toxic, hazardous and untreated garbage at the entrance of any of their premises.
It also wants an order issued compelling the devolved unit to reconnect the water supply and unblock the sewer system to the Kenya Power premises.
The court is now expected to issue orders in regard to the garbage dumped at the Stima Plaza after receiving a briefing on the outcome of a meeting between Sakaja, Kenya Power officials, and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
Koskei chaired the meeting earlier on Wednesday, February 26.
Edwin Sifuna defends Sakaja
Sakaja has been under fire since his officers allegedly dumped garbage at Stima Plaza. However, TUKO.co.ke reported that Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna sided with the county boss.
Sifuna argued that Kenya Power also played a role in the feud that led to the county’s retaliation.
Several other leaders and state agencies have condemned the dumping of waste at Stima Plaza.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
