Authorities in Nairobi have shut down an illegal electricity distribution hub secretly operating near the National Archives, Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed.
In a statement on Monday, Sakaja said the illicit station had been supplying power to traders while tampering with street lighting and CCTV lines, exposing the Central Business District (CBD) to increased insecurity. The operation to dismantle the hub was carried out jointly by the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Power, and the Nairobi County Government.
Sakaja revealed that a manhunt is underway for the ringleader behind the scheme.
“We have launched sustained joint operations with the police to stamp out these crimes. Over the weekend, several suspects were apprehended, and investigations are ongoing. Those found culpable will face the full force of the law. Let this be a warning — Nairobi will not be a safe haven for criminals,” Sakaja warned.
The county boss said the illegal connections had left key city areas — including Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, the Tom Mboya Monument, and the Mama Ngina/Moi Avenue junction — without reliable lighting, compounding cases of muggings and vandalism.
To counter the menace, Sakaja announced a raft of measures: securing electricity networks, expediting the replacement of damaged streetlamps, and providing armed escorts for technical teams working in high-risk zones. Preventive steps such as alternative energy supplies, anti-vandalism campaigns, and closer collaboration with businesses to expand surveillance are also in the pipeline.
“We are calling upon the business community to stand with us. Installing CCTV cameras and sharing intelligence will help us track and neutralize offenders more swiftly. Security is a shared responsibility, and together we can close the space on crime,” he said.
The development comes just months after Sakaja dismissed allegations linking him to hired goons who disrupted anti-government protests in the CBD in June. Then, the governor underscored the constitutional right to peaceful assembly but cautioned against destruction of property and violence.
In his latest statement, Sakaja struck a similar note — balancing security with civic rights while urging national unity.
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