by Joseph Ogungo on Sunday, 26 April 2026 – 11:15 am A photo collage of someone keying in electricity tokens and a screenshot of a purchase of electricity tokens, September 23, 2025. Photo Kenyans.co.ke The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has quietly begun recovery of legacy debts by deducting arrears directly from prepaid token purchases, a move that will now affect the number of electricity units consumers receive after token purchase. The development came to light after a customer raised concern over inconsistent token values from two separate purchases made under different meters, but for the same amount. In the first transaction, the customer bought a Ksh500 token and received 19.4 units. However, a subsequent purchase of the same value yielded only 9.7 units, nearly half the earlier amount. The explanation has now revealed a little-known mechanism through which the company is quietly offsetting unpaid arrears, which effectively reduces the number of units issued to affected customers despite uniform token purchase amounts. An image of a Kenya Power Meter that measures the amount of electric energy consumed at your premises, November 13, 2019. Photo Kenya Power The company explained that the second meter had an outstanding debt for last-mile connections. This debt, the company explained, was being recovered at a whopping rate of 50 per cent on each token purchase. Therefore, for a token purchase of Ksh 500, for instance, Ksh 250 went to last-mile connection debt recovery. At the same time, only Ksh 160 was allocated to the token purchase, with the remaining amount allocated to other charges. “The second meter has an outstanding Last Mile connection debt, which is being recovered at 50 per cent from each purchase , which is why you are receiving fewer units,” Kenya Power explained. The clarification has sparked wider debate among consumers online, with many saying they were unaware that old connection fees or debts could automatically be deducted from prepaid token purchases without prominent notification at the point of sale. The Last Mile Connectivity Program (LMCP)was initiated in 2015 as a large-scale government project aimed at providing universal access to electricity by reducing connection costs. The program was particularly targeted at low-income areas, rural, and peri-urban areas. Its main goal is to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 by connecting households, businesses, and public institutions near existing transformers at a subsidized rate. The Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) mainly carries out the project. It is funded by the government of Kenya, with support from other global partners, including the World Bank. The government was seeking to provide electricity access to homes at subsidised rates , allowing customers to be connected first and pay later in instalments, something most of the public were unaware of. According to many consumers, the recovery mechanism now appears to operate silently in the background, only becoming noticeable when units experience a significant drop, prompting many to raise transparency concerns. Kenya Power Building in Nairobi CBD. Twitter Latest News Murkomen Declares Parts of Marsabit County Disturbed and Dangerous Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 5:54 pm Gladys Wanga Reveals ODM’s Plan for DP Slot in Ruto Coalition Talks Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 5:09 pm KHRC To Take Ruto’s UDA to Court Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 4:19 pm Ruto Announces Construction of Multi-Billion Dual Carriageway Linking Four Counties Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 3:42 pm EPRA Reveals New Electricity Charges for April Power Bills Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 3:23 pm KRA Announces New VAT Changes Affecting Exporters Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 2:34 pm Kenyan Marathoner Sebastian Sawe Breaks World Marathon Record Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 1:45 pm IG Kanja Issues Orders After 7 Killed in Kitui in Retaliatory Attacks Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 1:02 pm Ruto Makes Over 30 Fresh Government Appointments Sun, 26 Apr 2026 – 12:11 pm KPLC Beg