Families living in some government barracks are raising alarm over prolonged electricity disconnections, with claims that some homes have remained in darkness for more than a month while senior officers’ houses allegedly still have power. A resident who reached out anonymously said families in one barracks in Nakuru have gone for over a month without electricity following a dispute involving unpaid power bills....

Families living in some government barracks are raising alarm over prolonged electricity disconnections, with claims that some homes have remained in darkness for more than a month while senior officers’ houses allegedly still have power. A resident who reached out anonymously said families in one barracks in Nakuru have gone for over a month without electricity following a dispute involving unpaid power bills. According to the resident, electricity in the camp is paid for centrally by the institution, but Kenya Power has allegedly cited huge outstanding debts. The resident says families have for a long time pushed to be allowed to pay for their own electricity directly. Token meters were reportedly installed in some houses but have not been activated, leaving residents dependent on the central payment system. The complaint also claims that ordinary families cannot speak openly because their parents, who serve within the disciplined services, fear disciplinary action if they complain. The resident further alleged that a similar situation is affecting families at NYS Naivasha, where some households have reportedly gone for more than two months without electricity. The claims raise serious questions about how electricity bills are managed in government residential facilities, why token meters have not been activated despite being installed, and why families should suffer prolonged blackouts over administrative or billing disputes. The complainant also raised concerns, without providing evidence, that bills may be inflated by insiders for personal benefit, especially near the end of the financial year when pending debts are likely to be cleared. Below is the testimony as received: > “Hi Cyprian, as usual, ID mbali kabisa. My parents and I live in the barracks. Hatujakua na stima for a month plus. Stima inalipwa na Kambi and KPLC claims big debts. Our parents have insisted for a long time to pay their own electricity. Token meters were put but not activated yet. > > Now tumekua in darkness for so long, but nyumba za wakubwa ziko na stima. Our parents can’t complain because disciplinary actions will be taken against them, but Mimi naona it’s so unfair. People have to speak when things are not right. > > What is this that they cannot come to an agreement over for the well-being of everyone? > > Hata heri sisi na Nakuru imekua a month. A friend of mine, wanaishi NYS Naivasha. They have not had electricity for two months plus. > > These parties should come to an agreement and bring it back and let people pay their own electricity since the token meters are already there. If our parents will settle for kunyanyaswa, let us talk manze. It’s been long overdue. > > I am not sure of this next statement, but inasemekana hapo ndio wanakulia. For example, if bill is 2 million, in agreement with some people inside, it will be exaggerated to 5 million, hiyo ya juu watu wakule. Especially since financial year inakaribia kuisha, all debts will be paid no matter the amount. > > Long story short, these people waelewane, turudishiwe stima.” The situation, if confirmed, points to a welfare crisis affecting families of officers and government workers who may be unable to complain freely because of the nature of their parents’ work. Kenya Power and the relevant institutions should clarify the actual debt position, explain why ordinary families have remained disconnected for weeks, and state when installed token meters will be activated so that residents can pay for their own electricity directly. Families should not be forced to live in darkness because of unresolved billing disputes between institutions.