Sifuna pushes to have Ruto’s govt take up Nairobi street lighting electricity bills
By Mustafa Juma, January 15, 2025
Nairobi county senator Edwin Sifuna is pushing to have President William Ruto’s government take the responsibility of paying the Nairobi street lighting electricity bills.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General in a statement shared via his official X account on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, revealed he had held a consultative meeting with the Electricity sector officials led by CS energy Opiyo Wandayi, in which he raised the issue.
According to Sifuna, Nairobi City county spends high amount of money to keep the streets lit when security is a national government function.
Sifuna expresses hopes
Sifuna further stated that he had been of ongoing discussions within the energy sector to have the national government take up the bills.
“Consultative meeting with the Electricity sector officials led by CS energy Opiyo Wandayi this morning at Eka over the state of Electricity Supply within Nairobi and Western Kenya at Eka Hotel this morning. One of the key concerns for me has been the high amount of money Nairobi County spends to keep our streets lit when Security is a national government function. I have been assured that discussions are ongoing for the National Government to take up these bills. We hope this happens,” Sifuna stated.
Consultative meeting with the Electricity sector officials led by CS energy Opiyo Wandayi this morning at Eka over the state of Electricity Supply within Nairobi and Western Kenya at Eka Hotel this morning. One of the key concerns for me has been the high amount of money Nairobi… pic.twitter.com/jSPP1z0ofz
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) January 15, 2025
Huge bills for counties
The Nairobi City county has also been repairing and maintaining the public street lights, apart from catering for the electricity bills.
Most county governments have been struggling with the high electricity bills for street lighting, which has some some of the devolved units shift to solar to keep the streets lit.
For instance, Kiambu County in December 2024 shifter from national grid-powered streetlights to solar-powered alternatives. This shift aims to curb soaring electricity bills, which exceed one billion shillings annually.