Nairobi residents have been cautioned against illegal power connections in their premises and residences which is being attributed to the cause of frequent fires in the informal settlements in the county.
The Nairobi County Commissioner David Wanyonyi said illegal connection of power in the settlement needs to be addressed urgently to deter cartels benefitting from the illegal connection business which are not billed on Kenya Power and Lighting Company.
Wanyonyi said 99.9 percent of fires happening in the county are not by accident but due to illegal connection, an issue he noted calls for Kenya Power and Lighting Company to provide a roadmap on how the illegal connections can be eradicated.
“The connections are done with cables that are not of standards, people stumble on lives wires causing injuries,” said the CC.
The County Commissioner was speaking during the Nairobi National Government Development Regional and County Implementation Coordination and Management Oversight Committee meeting held at the Regional Commissioner’s boardroom at Nyayo House building that was attended by Regional and County Heads.
During the meeting, Eng. Isaiah Odhiambo from Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) told the committee that the ongoing works of the rehabilitation and capacity enhancement of James Gichuru Junction-Rironi 25.3 km highway road overall progress works is currently at 78 percent while the works of Kangemi bridge is at 60 percent.
Eng. Odhiambo said the works which is expected to be complete by 26th November 2026 will also see the contractor of the project China Wu Yi Company Ltd work on the 38 km service road, feeder and collector roads of 17.5 km, a total of 10 interchange, three railway overpass bridges, six vehicular underpasses up and five pedestrian underpasses.
He singled out the encroachment by traders and hawkers on the road as one of the challenges slowing the construction works and called for the removal of the traders who have been disrupting works on the site.
“The contractor has been attempting to push back the traders but there is resistance on the ground,” he said.
By Bernadette Khaduli
