Five senior Kenya Power managers sent on compulsory leave

Kenya Power on Friday sent five top  managers on a 60-day compulsory leave to pave way for forensic audits.

In a statement by the KPLC Managing Director and acting CEO Rosemary Oduor, the five were suspended pending investigations.

The five managers suspended included; Eng. Peter Machasio (GM, Infrastructure Development), Eng. Peter Njenga (GM, Regional Coordination), Eng. Charles Mwaura (GM, Network Management), Robert Mugo (GM, ICT), Imelda Bore (GM, Legal Services and regulatory services).

The power firm CEO further announced their replacements who will be serving in acting capacity who include; Eng. Kennedy Owino (AG. GM, Infrastructure Development), Eng. Geoffrey Muli (AG. GM, Regional Coordination), Eng. Raphael Ndolo (AG. GM, Network Management), Titus Kitavi (AG. GM, ICT), Jude Ochieng (AG. GM, Legal services and regulatory affairs), Eng. Ariel Mutegi (AG. Regional Manager, Nairobi).

The suspension comes at the backdrop of an impromptu visit by Energy Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma that saw her visit Roysambu and Industrial area power installation stations where she found more than 10,000 faulty transformers.

During the visit, the CS was infuriated by the management as she failed to understand how such a number of transformers were lying unused there whereas a lot of places in the country are still facing challenges of accessing electricity.

CS Juma further questioned why more transformers were  still being procured when the available ones could be repaired.

“I have seen over 10,000 transformers which are not functioning. Some of them can be repaired and I have actually given instructions and I will be receiving a plan for repair by Monday,” she stated.

Last month, KPLC suspended 59 senior procurement officers pending an investigation into possible procurement malpractice that has hit the troubled power company.

This followed recommendation by a task force appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in March to probe the Power Purchase Agreement( PPA) between the firm and Independent Power Producers (IPP).