MBEERE NORTH, Kenya – Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has dismissed claims that transformers removed from Mbeere North were transferred to support political campaigns ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying the exercise was part of routine maintenance to improve electricity supply reliability.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the utility company said the transformers were removed strictly for maintenance and repairs after developing technical faults, describing the exercise as standard operational practice carried out across the country.
“Kenya Power wishes to clarify that the transformers in Mbeere North were removed strictly for maintenance and repairs, just as is routinely done in other parts of the country,” the company said.
KPLC explained that transformers affected by faults such as water ingress and other technical defects that cannot be repaired on site are transported to specialised workshops for servicing.
“Whenever transformers develop technical faults such as water ingress or other defects that cannot be rectified on site, they are taken to specialised workshops for repairs, testing and controlled heat drying to eliminate moisture and restore their integrity,” the statement added.
According to the company, 15 transformers were removed from Mbeere North between May and June 2026 as part of the maintenance programme.
It said 14 of the transformers have since been repaired and reinstalled, while one transformer that was vandalised last week is scheduled for replacement on Friday.
KPLC further stated that customers are informed whenever such maintenance activities are undertaken and maintained that the exercise followed normal operational procedures.
“Throughout such maintenance activities, the Company engages affected customers and keeps them informed,” the utility said.
The clarification follows concerns raised by residents after electricity outages were reported in some areas where transformers installed under the 2025 Last Mile Connectivity Programme were removed.
Some residents alleged the transformers had been relocated to Ol Kalou to facilitate development projects ahead of the parliamentary by-election scheduled for July 17.
Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Ruku Wamuthende had earlier dismissed the allegations, describing them as misinformation intended to mislead residents.
“I have noted with concern the misleading propaganda being circulated by some individuals claiming that transformers in Mbeere North are being removed by the government. These claims are false, malicious and intended to mislead the public,” Wamuthende said in a statement issued on June 30.
The clarification comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the Ol Kalou by-election, where the opposition has accused the government of deploying state resources to influence voters through the launch of development projects.
Government officials have rejected the allegations, maintaining that ongoing infrastructure projects are part of planned public development programmes and are not linked to the upcoming poll.
KPLC has urged members of the public to rely on official information regarding maintenance activities, reiterating that the removal and repair of faulty transformers is a routine technical process aimed at ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply.