Kenya Power has faced scrutiny for failing to connect thousands of customers who have already paid millions for electricity access. An audit revealed 2,200 stalled projects worth over Sh147 million and 10,078 delayed projects valued at Sh2.7 billion, some pending for over 15 years.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu flagged the delays, citing poor project monitoring and violations of Kenya Power’s customer service charter, which requires connections within 7 to 28 days. She noted that the delays deprived customers of electricity and the company of potential revenue.
Kenya Power attributed the delays to issues like material shortages, wayleave acquisition problems, and customer-related challenges, such as requests for refunds or unprepared premises. However, Gathungu expressed dissatisfaction with these explanations, pointing to systemic inefficiencies, including a lack of robust project management and power supply interruptions that exceeded international standards.
During the company’s recent AGM, Managing Director Joseph Siror highlighted efforts to reduce the backlog, reporting 447,251 new connections against a target of 400,000. Siror assured stakeholders that measures to enhance customer experience and reduce delays are underway.
The delays undermine President William Ruto’s commitment to expanding electricity access, with ambitious plans like the last-mile connectivity project aiming to connect 280,000 households. While electricity access has grown to 76% over the past decade, many Kenyans still face delays, forcing some to seek alternative sources like solar energy.
The report also criticized Kenya Power for inefficiencies in its power distribution network, with interruptions exceeding acceptable levels, and for failing to address employee fraud allegations. These findings raise concerns about the company’s capacity to meet national electrification goals and improve reliability for customers.
