CoG chair person Ahmed Abdullahi speaking to the press in Wajir town/HANDOUT
The Council of Governors [CoG] is now calling for a structured approach to dispute resolution between KPLC and its consumers.
In a press statement, the CoG
chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi
said the recent standoff merely exposed a fraction of the distress that
countless Kenyans and institutions have endured for years due to abrupt
disconnections.
Abdullahi was reacting to the standoff between the
Nairobi County government and Kenya Power, which saw both sides go to extreme levels
in a bid to flex their muscles.
In retaliation, the county government took drastic
measures, including dumping garbage outside KPLC headquarters, blocking sewer
lines, and cutting off water supply to its buildings.
Speaking in Wajir Town, Abdullahi urged Kenya Power to
utilise the existing intergovernmental mechanisms to resolve any disputes with
the county governments, including the issue of debt settlement.
“We note with great concern the ongoing impasse
between Nairobi County and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), which
has persisted for several days. While it is unfortunate that the situation has
escalated to this extent, it is crucial to highlight a long-standing issue,” said
Abdullahi.
The CoG chair said that for over a decade, KPLC has wielded unchecked power over counties and other entities, often resorting to abrupt power disconnections without due process or consideration or regard of the broader impact.
“KPLC has a well-documented history of disconnecting power to critical county institutions, including hospitals, water installations, and sewerage services, severely disrupting operations and endangering lives. However, when the roles are reversed, the company swiftly assumes the position of a victim,” Abdullahi said.
“It is time for KPLC to reflect on its actions,
acknowledge the suffering caused by its practices, and work towards a fair,
transparent, and predictable billing and disconnection process."
The CoG further highlighted some of the
historical cases of power disconnections by KPLC to county facilities, saying
that despite all these, KPLC owes county governments land rates in the form of
contribution in lieu of rates (CILOR), wayleaves charges, huge water bills and
other levies in the tune of billions since the inception of Devolution.
The standoff escalated, prompting the National Assembly Energy Committee to demand a resolution. On Wednesday, the Nairobi County government and Kenya Power agreed to end their standoff, paving the way for the restoration of all disrupted services.
The truce followed high-level talks involving Head of
Public Service Felix Koskei, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Energy Cabinet
Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, and Kenya Power officials, among others.
Addressing the media on Wednesday at City Hall, Sakaja
said that all services that had been cut off due to the feud will be restored.
“We've resolved that all hostilities end and issues will be sorted out amicably. We have now given instructions to restore water supply to their premises and to remove the garbage that had been blocking access,” he said.
