All Eyes on New KPLC Board As Kenyans Groan Under High Cost of Electricity

All eyes are on Kenya Power as its revolving doors turn once again ushering in six new directors.

The entry of new board members comes at a time Kenyans are groaning under high cost of living, fuelled by increasing costs of basic necessities, including electricity.

Following changes, Joy Masinde has been appointed the Chairman to lead a team who will be responsible for the successes or failures of the power utility company. Masinde, an advocate of the High Court replaced Vivienne Yeda who was ousted from the firm.

Others elected during the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) that saw President William Ruto’s allies elected to director positions were: Veska Kangogo, Duncan Ojwang, Albert Njagi, Logan Hambrick, Energy PS Andrew Kamau and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u.

The team takes over at a time Kenyans have taken to social media to complain about rising electricity prices which rose to a record high in December, making the festive season more expensive. Most Kenyans on social media said that the amount of power they can afford with Sh1,000, has dropped by about 10 units. 

They were also surprised that the fuel cost charges were the most dominant despite falling fuel prices and despite the fact that Kenya gets more than 90 per cent of its power from renewable resources.

“How is the forex charge above 10 percent and how do you end up with a value of tokens of 38 per cent? I have never understood this billing system where less than half of the amount is utilised for the actual service being paid for,” asked Muthoni Dolline.

“On 29/11 I bought electricity tokens worth 1,000/- and got 53.15 units. Today, I bought for the same amount and got only 38 units. With this trend, we will soon get one unit at 1,000/. Is this what we bargained for? Is this the way to attract investors? Sad,” said MK Murugu.

Some power consumers claimed they may start considering solar power, saying Kenya Power has been increasing prices too fast. 

“Kenya Power you are now conning us, imagine tokens rating 4.91 from 6 units to 5.7 then to 5.1 then to 4.91 you are robbing poor Kenyans solar power is the route,” said John Kwanda. At the same time Joy Brenda Masinde has been appointed the new Kenya Power Board Chairperson replacing Vivienne Yeda who was ousted from the firm.

Domestic electricity costs in December reached a record high of Sh26.29 per kilowatt-hour as power rates increased 6.3 percent from the previous month. Due to higher variable costs, such as the fuel cost charge (FCC) and foreign exchange fluctuation  adjustment, domestic electricity prices increased with consumers now paying 50 kilowatt-hour (kWh) at Sh1,314.4, up from Sh1,237.2 in November.