The Siaya Senator led Committee on Energy grilled Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja over the dispute between the Nairobi City County Government and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) over electricity bill.
Sakaja said that Kenya Power had issued a bill to the Nairobi City County Government amounting to 3 billion Kenyan shillings.
After physical verification of the electricity meters, it was established that the bill had dropped to Ksh. 1.5 billion which Sakaja made a commitment to pay Ksh. 50 million per month until the bill was settled.
The Committee heard that after joint meter verification between Nairobi City Government and Kenya power, it was established that some meters were traced to Turkana, Kiambu and Machakos counties.
“Despite the county government commitment to pay electricity bill amounting to Ksh. 1.5 billion, electricity supplier Kenya Power had refused to pay Ksh. 5.6 billion emanating from wayleave fees.” Sakaja stated.
Senator William Kisang’ who is a vice chair of the committee, inquired if the telecommunications companies pay the Nairobi City County government for distribution and laying of fiber optic cables.
The Governor explained to the committee that Kenya Power benefits commercially from telecommunications companies who pay the electricity company for the use of the Kenya Power distribution network yet the commercial benefits does not cascade to the Nairobi City County Government.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna tasked the governor to explain to the committee the strategies put in place to cut the electricity bill from Ksh. 100 million monthly.
Sakaja said that the county city government is putting up measures for harnessing of solar power in more than 80% of Nairobi City facilities and establishments.
The Governor further said that the implementation of solar energy in county buildings and street lighting will save the county government Ksh. 80 million per month.
“We have got investors who are investing in Dandora waste management to produce energy which will supply Nairobi county and the surplus will be released to the national grid, the investor has committed 200 tippers for collection of garbage in the city.” Said Sakaja.
Kakamega Senator, Bon Khalwale tasked the governor to shed more light on the pending electricity bill agreement between the county government and Kenya power that is put on paper and signed by the respective government agencies.
Governor Sakaja said that the agreement was not put on paper and that the agreement was a commitment and show of mutual respect and good faith from county government.
Sifuna on his side he maintained that that for posterity and future reference, the agreement should be signed by Kenya Power and County City Government of Nairobi to avoid future conflicts.