The debt standoff that led to the dumping of garbage in front of Kenya Power offices at Stima Plaza and Electricity House in Nairobi by county government officials took a new twist on Wednesday after the utility company and its affiliated trading partners took the county to court.
Kenya Power and the Kenya Power Pension Fund filed a case under a certificate of urgency, arguing that the basic rights of their residents had been violated.
Justice Ann Omollo is set to issue directions on Wednesday afternoon regarding the key issues raised by the petitioners.
In their prayers to the court, the Kenya Power company and staff union wanted the judge to order an immediate removal of all the county trucks, and garbage piles and unblocking of the sewer at their offices which they argued had hampered their services.
However, the court directed the parties to return for further directions, pending the outcome of the earlier technical engagement led by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, and Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Meanwhile, the county government, through lawyer Duncan Okatch, maintained that the trucks were removed on Tuesday night and expressed confidence that the meeting convened by Koskei would resolve the impasse.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja in a presser outside City Hall, clarified that they had reached an agreement to end the impasse.
"The first thing we have resolved is that all hostilities must end, and issues should be sorted amicably. We have given instructions for water to be supplied and for the trucks to be removed," Sakaja stated.
Addressing the dumping of garbage outside Kenya Power offices, Sakaja described the incident as "unfortunate" and vowed to handle the matter internally.
Despite the condemnation, the governor maintained that the county government had the authority to take action against Kenya Power.
"There has been a long-standing issue with payments, which used to be settled in the past. In the same way KPLC cuts power when there is non-payment, the county government also has remedies provided by law. Some of these actions include withdrawing county services and clamping buildings," Sakaja added.
The latest events stemmed from an ugly incident that happened on Monday after the county officials dumped waste at the Kenya Power offices and clamped vehicles.
