Wandayi details new strategy to tackle illegal electricity connections
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 22, 2025Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has outlined a plan by Kenya Power to address the growing challenge of illegal electricity connections in densely populated urban neighbourhoods.
These areas, which are often characterised by high population density and limited infrastructure, have become increasingly difficult to manage, with cases of unsafe and unregulated power connections on the rise.
Wandayi while appearing during an interview on a local radio station on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. He revealed that the government is adopting a new strategy dubbed “bulk metering” to streamline electricity supply in such environments.
The approach involves designating a single individual or entity within an estate or neighbourhood to act as the central point of contact with Kenya Power.
This representative will receive the overall power bill and be responsible for distributing electricity to individual households, as well as collecting payment from them.
“Illegal connections are very rampant in build-up neighbourhoods. In neighbourhoods with high population intensity, we have heard challenges controlling this menace because of issues to do with security and so forth, but we are coming up with a solution – what we are calling bulk metering – in those neighbourhoods, in those estates where it will be difficult for Kenya Power personnel to access every household. We are coming up with a strategy to do bulk metering,” Wandayi stated.
According to Wandayi, the bulk metering model is expected to address multiple challenges at once.
It will improve billing efficiency, reduce electricity theft, and eliminate the need for Kenya Power personnel to physically access every household.
This, he noted, is especially important in areas where insecurity or poor access makes individual metering impractical.
Hazards associated with illegal connections
Wandayi also pointed out that the safety concerns associated with illegal connections remain a top priority.
He said that many fire incidents in high-density settlements are directly linked to unregulated power lines and informal wiring systems.
Through bulk metering, the Ministry of Energy hopes to mitigate these risks by enforcing standardised and safer distribution methods.
In addition, Wandayi indicated that this model will help ensure uninterrupted electricity supply by reducing frequent disconnections and illegal tampering.
“it will go a long way in making sure there is no uninterrupted power supply in those areas by reducing matters of disconnections here and there but, more importantly, creating an environment of safety because these illegal connections are very unsafe; many at times we have fire incidents happening as a result of illegal connections,” he added