The East African Standard (Nairobi)

Kenya: KPLC Refutes Funding Political Parties

Lucianne Limo

25 April 2008


Nairobi — The Kenya Power and Lighting Company has refuted claims that it over-billed its customers to fund political parties in the elections.

KPLC General Manager, Mr Don Priestman, termed the allegations as untrue, wild and unfounded.

"I have never signed any cheque of whatever amount to a political party during the last General Election," he said.

A report issued by the Coalition for Accountable Finances on Wednesday alleged that the power company over-billed its customers and paid the proceeds to a political party in the run-up to last year's elections.

The report urged customers to scrutinise their bills from a certain month to verify if they were inflated.

"KPLC is therefore shocked that the report by the NGO, which was purportedly researched, would make such ridiculous claims against the company without having made any attempt to talk to the company," Priestman said.

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He explained that the basis of all electricity bills is the units of electricity used as measured by meters installed at customer's premises.

Priestman added that the operations of the power company were transparent and their books open for scrutiny.

"All details of our operations, including purchase of bulk power, billed units, payments received from customers and payments we make to our suppliers are available for anyone with an interest of telling the truth," he added.

Priestman was speaking to The Standard at the KPLC headquarters on Thursday.

He asked the research body to provide evidence to support the allegations.

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