High Court urged to block Kenya Power from cutting power to counties

The petitioner, Charles Rubia, is also seeking an order barring Kenya Power from cutting off electricity to hospitals, water pumping stations, and street lighting.

He argues that if the court does not intervene, Kenya Power’s actions will disrupt service delivery, threaten public health and safety, and create a constitutional crisis regarding the management of national utilities in the devolved system.

Through lawyer, Elkana Mogaka, Rubia highlights an ongoing conflict between Kenya Power and the Nairobi County Government. According to court documents, this dispute escalated when Kenya Power disconnected electricity to several Nairobi County offices on February 14, 2025, due to unpaid bills.

The petitioner now wants the court to issue conservatory orders preventing Kenya Power from taking any adverse action against the Nairobi County Government and vice versa concerning the electricity dispute.

The court papers also reference concerns raised by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum who has questioned Kenya Power’s past actions, citing instances where power disconnections endangered lives and disrupted critical county services.

Rubia further argues that when negotiations between different government entities fail, Kenya Power is required to formally declare a dispute and refer the matter to the Summit, the Council, or another intergovernmental body established under the law.

Instead of taking this approach, he contends, Kenya Power has resorted to "draconian" actions, such as cutting off electricity to critical infrastructure in Nairobi County.