Tag: Kenya power CEO

  • Is Kenya Power’s “Impersonation Alert” a Smokescreen for a Bigger Scandal?

    Is Kenya Power’s “Impersonation Alert” a Smokescreen for a Bigger Scandal?

    Nairobi – Kenya Power has issued a “Public Alert” warning Kenyans about alleged fraudsters impersonating their Managing Director and CEO, Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror, to solicit bribes and illegal favours.

    But industry insiders are questioning whether this alert masks a deeper scandal brewing within the utility company.

    The statement, released Friday, August 1st, has drawn scrutiny for its vague language and lack of specifics.

    The alert contains no names, specific cases, or mention of arrests—leading some to view it as damage control rather than genuine public service.

    Sources within Kenya’s energy sector suggest the timing is suspicious.

    Whispers point to an insider operating under the alias “Mr. Transformer” who allegedly collected “consultancy fees” on behalf of the CEO, promising expedited tenders, land clearances, and power reconnections for cash-strapped industrialists.

    A whistleblower from Kenya Power’s procurement department, known only as “Wattman,” claims the impersonation scam shows signs of insider knowledge.

    “The calls were coming from inside the building,” the source noted, suggesting whoever was impersonating Siror possessed detailed information about internal processes—far beyond what external fraudsters would know.

    This has led to speculation that the “impersonation” narrative might be cover for legitimate inquiries into corruption within the company’s upper echelons.

    Industry observers point to recent personnel changes in Kenya Power’s finance and legal departments.

    A senior legal officer, referred to by sources as “Blackout,” was reportedly placed on compulsory leave last month following a whistleblower complaint about “boardroom favours for procurement licenses” that reached anti-graft investigators.

    Multiple contractors who had been awaiting payments worth hundreds of millions of shillings have reportedly received their dues through unusual arrangements.

    One prominent businessman in energy circles, dubbed “Voltage Vinnie” by sources, claims he paid substantial facilitation fees “through someone said to be the MD’s fixer.” Within 48 hours of payment, his outstanding invoices were settled.

    With this public alert now on record, insiders suggest Kenya Power may be preparing for potential scandal exposure. The statement could serve as legal protection, allowing the company to claim it warned the public if the situation escalates into a national controversy.

    Whether Dr. Siror was genuinely impersonated or this represents a more complex internal scandal remains unclear. What’s certain is that Kenya Power’s reputation hangs in the balance as questions mount about transparency and accountability within the state utility.

    Until a full investigation sheds light on these allegations, Kenyans may continue to find themselves in the dark about the true extent of corruption within their power company.

  • Why Ngugi Quit His Lucrative Job As Kenya Power CEO

    Why Ngugi Quit His Lucrative Job As Kenya Power CEO

    Kenya Power CEO Bernard Ngugi has stepped down and has been replaced by the General Manager customer service Engineer Rosemary Oduor.

    The electricity supplier, however, did not reveal the reasons for Mr Ngugis surprise exit but sources indicated boardroom wrangles forced his ouster.

    According to sources, the new Vivienne Yeda-led board that was chosen in November last year took an active role in management, including querying procurement decisions and dropping management’s strategy to increase tariff rates that officials believed would lift Kenya Power out of the red.

    “The board came with the mentality that Kenya Power is rotten and they have to clean the company. Their main focus has been on tenders where the board has been micromanaging,” said the source.

    “There has been bad blood between the board and the management and little is moving. Two months ago, the board sat to remove Mr Ngugi but there was a split.”

    Kenya Power has had four CEO’s in just four years a huge turnover at the troubled company’s most critical office.

    In 2018, Mr Ken Tarus was hounded out of office and charged along his predecessor, Ben Chumo, and a number of other senior managers for conspiring to commit an economic crime and abuse of office.

    He was replaced by Jared Othieno in acting capacity.

    Mr Othieno served up to 2019 and was replaced by Mr Ngugi, who was at the time head of the utility’s procurement division.

    Mr Ngugi’s tenure was marked by huge losses when Kenya Power sunk to a Kes 939 million net loss for the year ending June 2020 after getting a Kes 6.1 billion tax credit from lower corporate taxes given to companies to survive the vagaries of coronavirus pandemic.

    The tax credit lifted the company from a pretax loss of Kes 7 billion.

    The State corporation’s half-year profit as at December 2020 tumbled 80 per cent to Kes 138 million from Kes 692 million at similar stage in 2019 attributable to higher financing costs as a result of unrealized foreign exchange losses occasioned by the depreciation of the shilling against major foreign currencies.

    The electricity supply monopoly business was not able to meet its debts on time with US energy firm Ormat Technologies stating the amount overdue from KPLC was Kes 5.3 billion ($48.9 million) out of which Kes 1.7 billion ($16.2 million) was paid in January and February this year.

    The firm has also seen changes in the office of board chairman with Mahboub Maalim Mohamed replacing former House Speaker Kenneth Marende as the chairman and most recently Vivienne Yeda taking over.

    Ms Yeda told shareholders CEO’s at the company had turned the utility firm into a “procurement machine” and promised to plug the loopholes.

    Mr Ngugi, was in charge of procurement when the firm signed a contract with a private company for the supply of transformers, which turned out to be faulty.

    The Employment and Labour Relations Court in November 2020 dismissed a petition to remove Mr Ngugi from office due to integrity issues relating to the procurement of transformers when he was the general manager for supply chain.

    The petition was dismissed on the basis of a defective affidavit.

    Mr Ngugi was one of the few senior managers who remained at the firm after a procurement scandal forced out 10 others, including his predecessor, Ken Tarus.

    Mr Tarus, his predecessor, Ben Chumo and other senior managers were in July 2018 charged with abuse of office for allegedly entering into a contract with a private firm for the supply of transformers, which turned out to be faulty.

    Prosecutors said the deal also flouted procurement rules for State entities. Mr Ngugi’s exit now deepens the management instability at the power monopoly that last year sank into the first loss in 17 years.