A fresh row is brewing between county governments and Kenya Power over the utility firm’s multi-million-shilling earnings from leasing fibre optic cables mounted on its power lines, as governors seek a share of the revenue.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Energy, Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali, who also chairs the Council of Governors (CoG) Energy Committee, claimed that Kenya Power has been profiting from sub-leasing its infrastructure to private telecommunication companies without remitting any proceeds to counties, despite operating on county lands.
“Kenya Power has wayleaves on county land but uses them to profit by leasing to telcos. Counties have never received any of that revenue,” said Ali. He urged the Senate to compel Kenya Power to disclose all revenue received from such leases, arguing that counties deserve a portion.
Governor Ali revealed that Kenya Power controls over 1,800 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide, which have been leased to licensed telecom providers. Yet, no payments have historically been made to counties or even to the telcos for wayleave charges, he claimed.
In addition to seeking a share of these revenues, counties are also contesting Kenya Power’s claim of Sh4.7 billion in outstanding electricity bills. Ali dismissed the figure, citing recent audits that revealed massive discrepancies.
He pointed to Nairobi and Machakos counties as examples, where joint audits with Kenya Power uncovered non-existent or duplicated accounts. In Machakos, a KPLC bill of Sh141 million was reduced to Sh56 million after scrutiny.
Ali accused the utility of ignoring previous efforts to resolve the matter. “We agreed to form a joint committee, but Kenya Power has since gone silent,” he told senators.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale urged both parties to find a compromise before Senate steps in. “Both sides want money. What is the middle ground?” he asked.
The Council of Governors is now banking on legislative intervention to break the stalemate, warning that continued standoff could fuel tensions between the devolved units and the utility firm.
