This archive report was first published on 13 September 2021.
Kenya Power is facing a daunting task in recovering billions of shillings in outstanding dues from households and businesses, with domestic consumers accounting for over 60 percent of the debt.
According to the utility, the debt ranges from six months to two years, highlighting the tough times faced by families struggling to pay power bills amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kenya Power is seeking to hire four debt collectors this year, with the tender inviting interested firms to apply for the deals that will last for two years.
"The company commissioned the services of four private debt collectors in the second half of the last financial year. The remaining four will be on-boarded as soon as tendering is concluded," Kenya Power told the Business Daily.
Kenya Power's total debts as at the end of last June stood at Sh118.73 billion, made up of Sh65.96 billion commercial debt and Sh53.26 billion on-lent debt.
Kenya Power chairperson Vivienne Yeda has identified sealing loopholes that facilitate financial haemorrhage and improving revenue collection as top priorities for the company.
Monday, September 13, 2021, marked the latest bid by Kenya Power to tame defaulters holding billions of shillings, with the utility publishing a tender inviting interested firms to apply for the deals.
