Senators and governors have turned the heat on Kenya Power, accusing the agency of operating with impunity and abusing its monopoly.
In a strongly worded statement,
the Council of Governors said for a
long time KPLC has wielded what
it described as “unchecked power”
over counties and even disconnected
power to hospitals.
According to the county bosses,
KPLC has not only hurt counties
but also individuals and private
businesses through abrupt power
disconnections and nontransparent
billing systems.
“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,”
CoG chairman Ahmed Abdullahi said.
The governors spoke after an ugly
dispute between KPLC and Nairobi
government that saw county officials
disconnect fibre optic cables on
Kenya Power’s lines.
The criticism comes at a time when
MPs have been pushing to have
consumers allowed to buy electricity
tokens directly from independent
power producers, in a bid to end
KPLC monopoly.
Some county officials also dumped
garbage outside Stima Plaza, turning
the spotlight on governor Johnson
Sakaja.
The CoG regretted that while
the feud had taken an unfortunate
twist, the endless bullying by Kenya
power while refusing to pay county
governments must stop.
Kenya Power itself owes count governments in land rates, wayleave
charges, water bills and other levies
since the advent of devolution.
“The standoff that has been
witnessed has merely exposed a
fraction of the distress that countless
Kenyans and institutions have
endured for years due to abrupt
disconnections,” the governors said.
The power utility continues to
ignore an advisory from the Attorney
General that they must be granted
permission on any land use by the
county government, the governors
said.
The dispute between Kenya
Power and Nairobi county became
public on Monday after KPLC
disconnected county offices.
However City Hall hit back,
accusing the agency of refusing to
pay Sh4.8 billion in wayleave fees.
KPLC leases its power poles and
transmission lines to internet service
providers, allowing them to run fiberoptic cables.
City Hall claims KPLC pockets the
money without paying wayleave fees.
On Thursday, governor Abdullahi
said it was regrettable that Kenya
Power was swift to play victim when
the tables turned.
“This selective application of
authority raises serious concerns
about fairness and accountability. We
condemn these perennial disruptions
and call for a structured approach to
dispute resolution between KPLC and
its consumers ensuring that essential
services are never jeopardised in the
future,” Abdullahi said.
“It’s 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 row spiralled further after a section of senators on Thursday came
to Sakaja’s defense, who has borne
the brunt of the mess.
Senators Karungo Thang’wa
(Kiambu), Dan Maanzo (Makueni),
John Methu (Nyandarua) and
Mohamed Chute (Marsabit)
accused Kenya Power of insensitive
disconnection even to critical facilities
like maternity hospitals.
They vowed to have Wandayi and
KPLC managing director Joseph Siror
to explain their decisions, which
posed a health threat in county
hospitals.
They termed the disconnections
illegal and abuse of office.
“We shall summon the CS for
Energy and KPLC MD to explain
the disconnection of critical
infrastructures,” Methu said.
The Senators criticised the power
company over its confrontational
approach towards county
governments, accusing the utility
of disregarding devolution and
operating without accountability
