Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja yesterday exonerated himself from any wrongdoing regarding the dumping of garbage at Kenya Power offices on the day MPs demanded to know why it had taken long for the county to order the trucks carrying the filth to be removed from the premises.

Sakaja, who apologized over the incident on grounds that it was not sanctioned by the county, told lawmakers that he had already interdicted two officers over the matter.

The two, James Sankale (Head of Debt Collection Unit), and John Ntoiti (acting Revenue Collection Director), he said were suspended after preliminary investigations revealed they had a hand in the matter.

Smelly trucks

He however explained that although the filth was removed, the smelly garbage trucks full of waste were cleared on Saturday which is four days after the incident happened.

He said: “Let me say this from the beginning, the dumping incident at Kenya Power was uncouth and wrong. It was something not sanctioned by the county. On behalf of the staff I apologize to the people of Nairobi and assure them that this will never happen.”

He added: “Whereas the decision to block the entrance of Stima Plaza and to cease provision of County Services including Water and Sanitation to KPLC was a county government decision supported by the National Rating Act 2024 Sec. 19, the incident where one truck tipped garbage was not sanctioned. Internal processes have been instituted. Two senior officers have since been interdicted as investigations continue.”

Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, Sakaja clarified that the dumping actions was not authorized by his office but said that clamping of the buildings and the vehicles at Kenya power was a decision sanctioned by the county to push the institution to settle Sh 4.9 billion pending bill that is related to the wayleaves. He explained that the decision to block the entrance of Stima Plaza using the smelly garbage trucks was also a city county government decision.

Sakaja who spent most of the time explaining how KP has frustrated counties, regretted that although they owe them Sh 1.5 billion, it is only prudent that the institution takes in to consideration the plight of Kenyans before switching of power to critical areas like it has previously done.

He said: “The waste was cleared but the trucks remained there.”

Public health officers

And added: “We however sent public health officials to the facility where we did a cleanup exercise and fumigation in the area including in the bushes. What is remaining is the inside part where I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to allow us entry into the building to the facility.”

But MPs present led by the committee chairperson and Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo demanded to know why the smelly garbage trucks with garbage had not been removed hours after National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) Director-General Mamo Mamo, told the committee that the trucks involved in clamping down the building were not licensed by the authority.

Said Tongoyo: “You are saying that you had the garbage removed within 30 minutes but Kenya Power went to court to demand that you clear the garbage.”

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin who were also present at the meeting said investigations are ongoing even as they revealed that two Kenya Power employees who had been detained by county enforcement officers when the incident took place were released without charges.

Said Kanja: “what happened on that day is barbaric, unacceptable and is criminal in nature and should never happen in this country.”

He added: “Today, Monday if it was not for this incident, myself and the DCI were supposed to head to Samburu county to oversee the security matters there. The other Deputy Gilbert Masengelli was supposed to accompany the commandant General Service Unit to Baragoi to assess the security situation. But we are now here.”

Amin who disclosed that investigations may be concluded within the next week disclosed that they had summoned Nairobi Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria for questioning as well as John Malawi (Director of Environment), Chief officer- Revenue administration and Acting ICT Infrastructure Tiras Njoroge, County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic planning Charles Kerich, County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maurine Njeri, and Nairobi Water Management Team Nahashon Muguna.

He said three county employees Augustine Otieno Osore (driver), Moses Gitari, and Alice Okari (machine operator) have been arrested in connection with the matter and will be charged with various charges including sabotage, robbery with violence, illegal waste Disposal and obstruction.

Amin regretted that during the incident three KP officials namely Anthony Mganda,Barbra Wacika Wachira and David Mauti Kiriago reported to the Parklands Police Station that they were arrested by the county officials and some of their valuables stolen. Mauti, reported being robbed of Sh 3,000 and a Seiko 5