Nairobi county offices have been left in the dark after Kenya Power cut off power to City Hall and City Hall Annex.
The power outage, which has lasted ten days, is in response to the Ann Kananu-led administration’s Sh1.5 billion debt to the utility firm.
Due to the blackout, county offices have been forced to rely on a generator to power some areas of the offices, causing disruption to most county offices in the two buildings, with some having to close.
Kenya County Government Workers Union Nairobi staff branch secretary Festus Ngari said the power outage has paralyzed certain critical services at City Hall, forcing several employees 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,” he said.
Kenya Power stated in a statement that City Hall had breached an agreement in which they were to pay a monthly instalment of Sh50 million towards the debt in addition to their current monthly bills.
This was agreed upon at a meeting earlier this year between representatives from the county government, Kenya Power, and the Ministry of Energy.
The county has since paid two instalments while four and the current bill are outstanding.
However, negotiations between the two parties are ongoing in order to reach an agreement in which power will be restored.
“We are in consultation with the county leadership and have shared the necessary information to expedite the collection of the outstanding amount,” the statement reads.
Since 2014, Kenya Power and City Hall have been at odds over debt arrears, with the county government claiming Kenya Power owes it more than Sh800 million in way leave and rent arrears.
The first outage occurred in January 2015, when Kenya Power disconnected City Hall for three days due to an outstanding power supply debt inherited from the defunct city council.
