The Kenya Power and Lighting Company is grappling with a major asset tracking crisis after more than one million electricity meters were found to be missing, raising concerns over illegal connections, internal weaknesses, and billing challenges.
Board Chair Joy Mdivo said the utility cannot account for a large number of meters out of the over 10 million installed across the country, noting that many have either been stolen, moved unlawfully, or are being used in areas different from where they were originally registered.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Tuesday, she linked the problem to both external theft and internal collusion, saying rogue staff and contractors have played a role in enabling illegal connections.
“we have over a million meters which we do not know where they are out of the more than 10 million installed nationwide,” Mdivo said.
She explained that the disappearance of meters happens in several ways, including customers relocating with them when they move houses, or new occupants stealing and reusing them.
“Sometimes Kenyans move, and they assume the meter is theirs, and they move with it… sometimes you move out of the house and guys come in and steal the meters,” she said.
As a result, some meters end up operating far from their registered locations, making it difficult for the company to track usage and enforce proper billing.
The issue adds to broader concerns raised in the Auditor-General’s reports for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years, which flagged serious gaps in oversight at the utility. Among the issues highlighted were Sh22 billion in excess payments to Independent Power Producers for electricity that was not supplied to the national grid.
The reports also pointed to procurement failures involving faulty prepaid meters valued at Sh1.08 billion, payroll irregularities, and weak internal controls, all of which raised questions about accountability within the company.
Mdivo said some of the unaccounted-for meters are being used in illegal connections, often with the help of unscrupulous individuals.
“You’re living in Kiambu, and your meter is registered for Migori,” she said, describing how such cases complicate monitoring and compliance.
She admitted that the problem is partly driven by internal failures, saying some employees and contractors assist in unauthorized installations that may go unnoticed until inspections are carried out.
“some of our guys help them, some of the contractors that we hire,” she said.
“When it does turn up… you’re deemed to have been a thief that stole the meter,” she added, noting that enforcement efforts sometimes lead to disputes with residents.
Mdivo further said addressing illegal connections is complex, as it requires removing unsafe setups and reinstalling systems that meet required standards. This process can face resistance, especially in areas where many households are affected.
The company is now faced with the challenge of recovering the missing meters while dealing with widespread illegal connections and ensuring stable electricity supply.