Kenya Power fires 110 employees over involvement in fraud, illegal connections

Kenya Power has laid off 110 employees who were found guilty of aiding fraud, illegal connections and other crimes.

According to Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO, Bernard Ngugi the layoff happened over the last one year.

“Illegal connections do not just threaten the Company’s revenue but also the lives of beneficiaries and the public at large. We are focused on eliminating these crimes and ensuring all those found culpable face the full force of the law,” said Mr. Ngugi.

He was speaking on Thursday in Tassia estate as he led the company’s crackdown on illegal power connections.

The operation, also attended by Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter and the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti was carried out jointly by Kenya Power’s security personnel and officers drawn from the National Police Service.

Last month a similar operation was carried out in Mukuru Kwa Njenga Estate where 16 transformers and assorted cables aiding illegal power supply were recovered.

The Company has recently increased surveillance on the grid network as a measure to address the rampant cases of illegal connections, vandalism, bypassing of meters and fraud involving transactions for payment of bills, electricity connection and purchase of electricity token.

In October last year, the Company established a special response team called the Field Enforcement Unit (FEU) that works closely with security agencies to promptly address cases of illegal connections.

Since the beginning of the current financial year, a total of 630 people have been arrested across the country and prosecuted for various crimes relating to theft of electricity and fraud. Out of these, 115 people have already been convicted.