The Council of Governors wants better ways to fix problems between Kenya Power and the people who use electricity.
Ahmed Abdullahi leads this Council. He said fights between Kenya Power and its customers should not stop important services. The fight between Kenya Power and Nairobi County showed just a small part of what many Kenyans face when their power is suddenly cut off.
"For more than ten years, Kenya Power has cut off electricity without talking to counties first. They did not think about how this hurts people," the Council said. "Kenya Power needs to see how their actions hurt people. They must make a fair way to send bills and cut power."
The Council talked to the Energy Ministry about these problems. "We ask Kenya Power to use the rules we already have to fix any fights with counties, including about money," Abdullahi said. He feels worried about the fight between Nairobi County and Kenya Power.
Nairobi County and Kenya Power agreed to stop fighting after a big meeting with Felix Koskei, an important leader. Governor Johnson Sakaja and Energy leader Opiyo Wandayi talked about money problems. Kenya Power owes Nairobi County about 4.9 billion shillings for using land to put power lines.
The fight started when Kenya Power cut electricity at Nairobi County offices because the county owed 3.1 billion shillings. Abdullahi said Kenya Power owes all counties money for land use, water bills, and other fees since counties started.
Kenya Power said a law stops public groups from charging fees on power lines without asking the cabinet leader first. Rosemary Oduor from Kenya Power said they cut power at county offices because the law lets them. "When someone does not pay bills, we can stop giving them power until they pay," she said.
Kenya Power sent Nairobi County a letter before they cut the power. They turned the power back on Friday after the county promised to pay some of what they owed. "They asked us to turn the power back on and said they would keep working with us. We turned it back on because they promised to pay," Oduor said.
Ahmed Abdullahi leads this Council. He said fights between Kenya Power and its customers should not stop important services. The fight between Kenya Power and Nairobi County showed just a small part of what many Kenyans face when their power is suddenly cut off.
"For more than ten years, Kenya Power has cut off electricity without talking to counties first. They did not think about how this hurts people," the Council said. "Kenya Power needs to see how their actions hurt people. They must make a fair way to send bills and cut power."
The Council talked to the Energy Ministry about these problems. "We ask Kenya Power to use the rules we already have to fix any fights with counties, including about money," Abdullahi said. He feels worried about the fight between Nairobi County and Kenya Power.
Nairobi County and Kenya Power agreed to stop fighting after a big meeting with Felix Koskei, an important leader. Governor Johnson Sakaja and Energy leader Opiyo Wandayi talked about money problems. Kenya Power owes Nairobi County about 4.9 billion shillings for using land to put power lines.
The fight started when Kenya Power cut electricity at Nairobi County offices because the county owed 3.1 billion shillings. Abdullahi said Kenya Power owes all counties money for land use, water bills, and other fees since counties started.
Kenya Power said a law stops public groups from charging fees on power lines without asking the cabinet leader first. Rosemary Oduor from Kenya Power said they cut power at county offices because the law lets them. "When someone does not pay bills, we can stop giving them power until they pay," she said.
Kenya Power sent Nairobi County a letter before they cut the power. They turned the power back on Friday after the county promised to pay some of what they owed. "They asked us to turn the power back on and said they would keep working with us. We turned it back on because they promised to pay," Oduor said.
