Parliament turns away KPLC MD for failing to explain why the company makes loses

The managing Director Geoffrey Muli was appearing before Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy of the National Assembly, to respond to audit questions raised by the auditor general. 

Muli had told the David Pkosing led committee that causes of the negative working capital had been there between 2014 and 2017 because a lot of investment was done on anticipation of 5000 megawatts project which was never realised. 

"We had to bear the burden of the credit to our investors, however since 2019 the working capital has been improving" Muli told the MPs. 

Muli also told parliament that they have written to Treasury to release Ksh.19B owed to them.

However MPs dismissed the answer, saying it was generic and not satisfactory.

Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi termed the response as a joke, saying if it was in another country the KPLC leadership would have been hanged for economic sabotage. 

Wandayi wondered why the power company was changing managing directors frequently and said the board could be part of the problem at KPLC. 

"When they appear next, they must come with the chair of the board, we want to know why they change MDs like clothes, who are the forces behind these shenanigans, this is a milk cow that has been milked for too long, and we must unmask them,” he said. 

Wandayi's sentiments resonated with other members of the committee, prompting Pkosing to read a riot act to the leadership of the company. 

"The thinking of Kenyans and this parliament is that cartels are benefiting from milking Kenyans, why is power being overpriced, why is KPLC dying, why is KPLC which is a monopoly making losses?" Pkosing posed. 

The company leadership is now expected to appear in two weeks’ time to defend themselves against the report of the auditor general.