News Break
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has called for the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to provide clarity on the recent incident involving garbage dumping outside Stima Plaza. This directive comes after MPs expressed outrage over the actions of the Nairobi County Government, labeling them as “criminality and abuse of the law.”
During a session on Wednesday, Wetangula instructed Parliamentary Committee Chairperson Gabriel Koshal Tongoyo to summon IG Kanja, criticizing the police chief for his silence on the matter. He warned that failing to address such behavior could lead to a breakdown of law and order, stating, “We will not allow this country to descend into chaos where individuals resort to sending goons to resolve disputes.”
The Speaker underscored the serious nature of the offences committed under various laws, including environmental and health regulations, pointing to the need for accountability. “There are criminal offences committed under the Environmental Law, Health Act, Penal Code, and several other acts of Parliament,” Wetangula added.
In response, Tongoyo confirmed that the IG would be required to appear before the committee next Thursday to address these concerns.
The motion to summon the IG was sparked by remarks from Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, who condemned the Nairobi County’s decision to dump waste in the Central Business District. Junet criticized the county’s approach to conflict resolution, suggesting that it should have sought alternative methods for settling debts rather than resorting to such extreme measures.
“This is an uncouth, primitive, and irresponsible way of addressing issues,” Junet stated, emphasizing that the actions could set a dangerous precedent, allowing the county to dump waste indiscriminately if debts remain unpaid.
Ichung’wa echoed these sentiments, questioning why the police did not intervene during the incident. He described the act as an abuse of power and public resources, calling for decisive action against those responsible, from the truck drivers to the county leadership.
“This is a criminal act, and it violates major acts of integrity and ethics. If we allow this behavior to go unchecked, what will stop others from taking similar actions?” Ichung’wa asked.
He urged businesspeople affected by the incident to consider legal action against the Nairobi County for compensation for their losses. “What if everyone decided to take the law into their own hands? The consequences could be catastrophic for our country,” he warned.
As the situation develops, the summoning of IG Kanja is expected to shed light on the matter and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
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