Nairobi County officials have cut fibre optic cables from Kenya Power’s utility poles, disrupting internet services for businesses, schools, and homes as tensions escalate over an unpaid electricity bill of $23.1 million (KES 3 billion).
The county government acknowledges the bill but insists Kenya Power owes it even more in unpaid land rates, wayleave fees, and parking charges. This counterclaim has stalled payments and fueled an increasingly hostile standoff.
The dispute took a dramatic turn this week. On Monday, county officials dumped garbage outside Kenya Power’s offices in Ngara. By Tuesday, they poured raw sewage at the company’s headquarters, preventing staff from entering. Later that afternoon, county workers vandalized fibre optic cables on Kenya Power’s poles, cutting off internet access in parts of Kilimani and surrounding areas, according to a TechCabal spot check.
The move drew sharp criticism from the Communications Authority (CA), which warned that ICT infrastructure is under national government jurisdiction.
“Fibre optic networks are a cornerstone of Kenya’s digital economy. Any interference must follow legal and regulatory frameworks,” the CA said in a statement to TechCabal.
Kenya Power: The bill is verified and overdue
Kenya Power maintains that Nairobi County’s electricity bill was reconciled in 2024 and is long overdue. It says the county government had previously agreed to clear part of the bill in November 2024 but later failed to pay.
“We have had a long-standing issue with Nairobi County with regards to payment of their bills. We offer a service, electricity, and once we offer the service, we bill and the client should pay,” said Rosemary Oduor, Kenya Power’s general manager of sales.
The county government, however, argues that Kenya Power owes billions in fees for land use, wayleave (right-of-way) charges, and vehicle parking. Officials claim these unpaid fees exceed the power bill, making the dispute a matter of unresolved balances rather than simple non-payment.
A Parliamentary report showed that as of November 2024, Nairobi accounted for over two-thirds of the $33.7 million (KES 4.37 billion) owed to Kenya Power by county governments. That’s nearly three times its debt from February 2024 ($10.4 million/KES 1.35 billion), highlighting why the standoff has escalated.
With businesses and residents now caught in the crossfire, pressure is mounting for a resolution. Kenya Power hasn’t indicated whether it will take legal action, but the Communications Authority’s intervention suggests possible regulatory consequences for Nairobi County.
For now, the capital remains a battleground—where a financial dispute has spiralled into disruptions affecting thousands.
