Tokens delay leaves Kenya Power consumers in darkness

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 31 Jul, 2019 17:23 | < 1 min read
blackout
A hitch has hit the Kenya Power prepaid system leading to delays in delivery of tokens purchased through M-Pesa paybill number 888880. PHOTO | FILE
A hitch has hit the Kenya Power prepaid system leading to delays in delivery of tokens purchased through M-Pesa paybill number 888880. PHOTO | FILE

Scores of electricity consumers were this week plunged into darkness after a glitch hit Kenya Power’s payment system for energy tokens.

Frustrated consumers voiced their complaints on social media, starting Monday night and spilling over to Tuesday and Wednesday.

Many of them had purchased tokens online and waited delivery of their electricity units in vain.

Those who tried to get responses through twitter were soon rewarded, meaning they must have been stuck somewhere along the value chain.

“Morning, NGU1LHBFVB confirmed, account no. 14107267610, I haven’t received tokens since yesterday,” said Josmun Mungai.

“Hello, please receive 2390 2505 6417 9369 4441. ^BW,” Kenya Power replied.

Another consumer, Mr Collins Orage, also said he had paid Sh600 and also sent the message to KPLC for the PREPAID for account 01450129943 on 31/7/19 at 7:17 AM.

Others even started wondering if the power firm had changed its payment mode.

“So KPLC wants every time we buy tokens via Mpesa we make a followup on twitter to get our tokens? what about Kenyans that are not on social media? kindly send me my tokens?” asked Mr Amos Lugaye.

Kenya Power acting chief executive Jared Othieno told People Daily that systems had a challenge starting Monday and a few people had been affected, so Kenya Power had to resort to sending the tokens manually as they worked with Safaricom to restore they system.

The firms’s ICT manager blamed the delay on degraded connection with their internet service provider.

“We are currently experiencing service interruption as a result of degraded connection with our service provider. This is affecting delivery of tokens purchased through our M-Pesa paybill number 888880,” said the ICT boss.

The firm says it is working to restore the service.