Counties pledge Sh4.7 billion if Kenya Power pays debts

County governments say they are ready to settle the Sh4.7 billion electricity bill Kenya Power is demanding, but only if the utility company clears its backlog of unpaid wayleave charges and shares the money it earns from fibre optic cables running on county land.

Marsabit Governor Mahmoud Ali, who chairs the Council of Governors’ Energy Committee, said counties are owed billions in dues by the utility company, some of which surpass the amounts the firm is demanding in power bills.

"Nairobi County is owed Sh802 million, Kirinyaga Sh192 million, and Machakos Sh41 million in wayleave charges by KPLC," said Ali.

"These charges should be cleared, especially since KPLC has been subletting infrastructure to other entities and receiving payment."

Ali accused Kenya Power of double standards—charging telecom companies for access to the fibre network hosted on county property, while failing to pay counties for hosting the infrastructure.

He also said that counties were not convinced by the electricity bills KPLC has presented, citing large differences discovered after independent audits.

"Take Machakos County, for example. KPLC initially claimed Sh141 million. After a forensic audit, that figure was revised down to Sh56 million. Similar discrepancies have been found in other counties," he said.

The Senate Energy Committee, led by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, expressed concern over Kenya Power’s conduct in handling the dispute.

Odinga criticised the absence of the utility’s CEO, saying it was inappropriate to send a junior officer for a matter of such importance.

"The KPLC CEO has not explained the nature of his engagements outside Nairobi that would take precedence over a parliamentary summons," said Odinga. "We insist on hearing directly from the CEO to ensure complete commitment to the decisions reached."

Odinga said that when top executives skip accountability forums, it becomes difficult for Parliament to ensure follow-through on decisions.

He acknowledged the competence of General Manager Rosemary Oduor, who had appeared on behalf of the company, but insisted that full responsibility must lie with the top office.

The tension between Kenya Power and county governments is not new. Earlier this year, Nairobi County dumped waste outside the utility’s headquarters after the company disconnected power over a Sh1.5 billion bill.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja later said KPLC owed the county Sh4.9 billion in wayleave fees.

Sakaja also disclosed that the dispute had gone to court, but the case was dismissed.

He said that after discussions with the company, it was agreed the county would pay Sh60 million monthly to settle the power bill.

With no end in sight, governors are now urging the Senate to intervene and enact laws that will help resolve the standoff and ensure fair treatment for counties hosting national infrastructure.