Governors have raised serious concerns over what they describe as the Kenya Power and Lighting Company’s (KPLC) unchecked authority in handling disputes with counties. They accuse the utility company of making abrupt power disconnections that disrupt essential public services.
The ongoing debt dispute between KPLC and Nairobi County, which resulted in power cuts at county offices, has escalated tensions.
In retaliation, the county staged protests by dumping garbage outside KPLC’s headquarters, clamping its vehicles, and blocking sewer lines.
In a statement, the Council of Governors (CoG) condemned KPLC’s handling of these disputes, highlighting a troubling pattern of sudden disconnections that have negatively affected hospitals, water facilities, and other vital county services.
“For more than a decade, KPLC has exercised unchecked power over counties, frequently resorting to abrupt power cuts without following proper processes or considering the broader impacts,” the CoG stated.
The council pointed to past incidents where KPLC’s actions compromised lives and disrupted critical services. In 2014, Kisumu District Hospital lost power, putting patients at risk, while in March 2023, Mombasa General Hospital faced a similar crisis.
In addition, Homa Bay’s water supply was cut off when power to its intake facility was disconnected.
Governors also pointed out that while KPLC is quick to disconnect counties over unpaid bills, the company itself owes billions in unpaid land rates, wayleave charges, and water bills.
The CoG is now calling for structured mechanisms to resolve disputes fairly and prevent arbitrary power disconnections that undermine public services.
“It’s time for KPLC to reflect on its actions, acknowledge the harm caused, and adopt a fair, transparent, and predictable billing and disconnection process,” the governors stated.
They also urged KPLC to comply with legal requirements, such as Section 57 of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, which mandates that counties grant development permissions before any work is carried out.
The governors have engaged the Ministry of Energy in an effort to find a long-term solution and are pushing for intergovernmental processes to resolve these disputes amicably.
