This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
Kenya Power Company has taken a significant step in addressing the theft of tokens and billing irregularities by dismissing 13 employees implicated in the illegal sale of tokens worth Sh35.2 million.
According to the Acting Managing Director of the company, Jared Othieno, the employees were involved in the theft that involved tokens and billing at the company.
During a Senate committee hearing, Mr. Othieno revealed that the company summoned over 3,000 customers who admitted to knowingly buying the tokens from rogue staff of the company.
He further stated that these customers used the tokens to purchase electricity units at a significantly lower cost than the required amount, with one customer using Sh1,000 to purchase 26.2 units instead of the required Sh3,200.
On June 27, 2019, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) summoned 200 Kenya Power customers over irregular postpaid billing, ordering them to report at the headquarters on diverse dates between July 1 and July 30.
The DCI alleged that the consumers colluded with rogue Kenya Power staff and brokers to fraudulently benefit 5,000 consumers.
Some of the entities summoned by the DCI include the Seventh Day Adventist in South Nyanza, Uchumi Supermarkets in North Rift, Moi University Campus in North Rift, Kenya National Mills in Nairobi, and Safaricom Investments Cooperative Society Limited in Nairobi.
