Nairobi Water and Sewerage boss summoned to court

Nairobi court has summoned Nairobi Water and Sewerage boss Nahashon Muguna to appear before it on March 20, 2019 for failure to repair a sewerage line at Nairobi West.

Muguna is expected to appear before senior resident magistrate Selina Muchungi and explain why he has not complied with a notice requiring him to repair the sewer which is endangering the lives of people within that area.

The officer was supposed to appear before the court on March 13, 2019 but he failed, instead he sent a representative from his office who informed the court that Muguna was away on official duty.

The court was informed that Muguna, who is the acting managing director of Nairobi Water and Sewerage boss was away on official duties and could not attend court proceedings that day.

The defense, however, objected to the intended charges against Muguna saying there were several cases similar to the case but the magistrate declined saying each case was touching on different matter.

Muguna is said to have failed to comply with a notice dated October 25, 2018 requiring him to reconnect and repair the destroyed sewer line on Lang’ata road.

The charge sheet before court indicates that Muguna failed to comply with the notice contrary to section 115 as read with section 118 and 119 of Public Health Act.

“On November 11, 2018, being the owner of plot on Mai Mahiu Road, situated in Nairobi Area, upon where nuisance exists and having been served with a notice under section 119 of public health act, failed to abate the nuisance within such period,” intended charge sheet reads.

Muguna is accused of failing to disconnect or remove the illegal waste water pipes carrying waste and soil water from accumulating at the demolished site of sewer line.

Harun Nyaboki, an interested party in the case, had received a letter from acting deputy director public health, Wilson Langat on his plea for an urgent attention on the blocked sewer line.

In the letter dated February 25, 2019, Langat says that following complain by Nyaboki to the department on September 26, 2018, the officers were sent on the site to inspect and find the origin of nuisance emanating from the plot which they established that a previous Nairobi water way leave had been blocked by an individual of a neighbouring plot.

“The way leave belongs to Nairobi water, they were issued with a notice to abate the nuisance which up to date has not been complied with, the officer complained to the honorable court and summons were issued with case no 48/2019 at city court,” the letter reads.

The case will be mentioned on March 20 when Muguna is expected in court.