NEMA orders City Hall to clear foul-smelling garbage at Stima Plaza amid row with KPLC
The dispute began after KPLC disconnected power to several county facilities on February 14, 2025 over an unpaid electricity bill of Sh3 billion.
The Nairobi City County Government has been ordered to remove its garbage trucks and waste dumped near Stima Plaza, the headquarters of Kenya Power Company (KPLC), as tensions between the two entities escalate.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said the waste disposal violates environmental laws, urging the county not to use garbage as a weapon in the ongoing dispute.
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“What we are doing now as NEMA is issuing an order to the Nairobi County Government. We are heading there right now to instruct them to do three things. One of them is to remove these vehicles from this area. The garbage trucks at the location are not registered,” NEMA’s Environmental Education Director Ayub Macharia said on Tuesday.
He noted that the county government should acquire the necessary licenses as required by law.
“The environmental aspect of waste management is the responsibility of NEMA. We are the ones in charge of setting national standards for waste management,” Macharia said.
Power disconnected
The dispute began after KPLC disconnected power to several county facilities on February 14, 2025 over an unpaid electricity bill of Sh3 billion.
In response, the county government cut off water supply to all KPLC offices and substations, despite the power company having no pending water bills.
City Hall further accused KPLC of failing to pay Sh4.8 billion in wayleave fees for using public land and infrastructure.
On Monday, Nairobi County escalated its actions by clamping company vehicles, blocking entrances, and dumping trash at Stima Plaza. A garbage truck remained at the scene on Tuesday as both parties failed to reach an agreement.
KPLC condemned the county’s actions as “unethical, unprofessional, and unlawful”, insisting that its operations are legally guided.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Power Pension Fund (KPPF), which owns Stima Plaza, also criticised the county’s move, saying it had disrupted business for all tenants, including KPLC, Cooperative Bank, and Health Point Services.
“Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company disconnected water and sewerage services at the complex without a clear explanation, despite no outstanding bills. Further, county officials dumped garbage outside the premises and blocked all entrances,” KPPF said.
KPPF assured tenants and the public that it was working with relevant government agencies to resolve the matter and restore normal operations.
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