Newly sworn-in Nairobi Governor, Anne Kananu, has been forced to use generators after Kenya power disconnected electricity at City Hall.
Kananu is among City Hall workers affected by the blackout at the county offices, which not only hosts her office but other key offices for officials serving the capital.
Kenya Power demanded that Kananu's administration clears a Ksh1.5 billion debt owed to the utility firm by City Hall before it restores power.
The blackout at the county headquarters left City Hall Annex in darkness while the main City Hall and the county assembly wing were forced to use generators.
According to the Kenya County Government Workers Union Nairobi staff branch secretary, Festus Ngari, the power cut paralysed significant services forcing some staff members to miss work.
“The physically challenged and elderly staff are at a great disadvantage since they have to use stairs to access their offices as the lifts are not working,” Ngari stated.
Although City Hall paid Ksh50 million in October 2021 to reduce the arrears it owes to Kenya Power, the utility firm remains adamant and has refused to reconnect the power.
During her swearing-in, governor Ann Kananu also launched a four-point Nairobi Economic Stimulus Program to revitalize the capital’s economy.
However, such issues have proven difficult even after the national government not only intervened and asked Kenya Power to restore electricity in City Hall but also the two institutions had agreed on a payment plan.
In a letter dated November 30, 2021, City Hall stated that Kenya Power had issued a notice of Ksh1.5 billion on November 9, 2021, but at the time the county government was in the process of initiating a supplementary budget.
The City Hall arrears began in 2014 with the county government claiming Kenya Power also owes it in excess of Ksh800 million in wayleave and rent arrears.
Wayleave rates are the charges incurred by KPLC to get a statutory right to install its electricity lines and associated equipment on, over or under private land.
During Mike Sonko's tenure in office, City Hall resolved to talk with the lighting company to try and settle the protracted row over the unpaid power bills.
Sonko, in the letter to the KPLC acting Managing Director, Jared Othieno, argued that the initial claim by Kenya Power was Ksh950 million but a court decision relieved City Hall after directing that only Ksh540 million was to be paid to the firm.
