A couple of weeks ago, Kenyans woke up to the news that Kenya Power staff sold tokens to the company’s customers illegally.
The result? Inflated bills were sent to other customers, while others queried the varying differences in the cost of tokens.
Talk of value for your money and quality over money,well not at KPLC! At KPLC, only money matters
The govt should #SwitchOffKPLC@KenyaPower_Care pic.twitter.com/9ZXrypJ6T1
— James Wambua™🇰🇪© (@wambuajames_) July 25, 2019
Mine is even worse!! 21 units for Ksh.500. What is REP Charge anyway #SwitchOffKPLC #STOPTheseTHIEVES pic.twitter.com/AcYaJHe9Mx
— Obed Omete (@ObedClement) July 23, 2019
KPLC mints billions from poor kenyans, however it is not among the highest taxpayers! Is this acceptable? The govt should #SwitchOffKPLC @KenyaPower_Care @MukamiWaEmbu @johnnjenga pic.twitter.com/1YYBmdYTWJ
— James Wambua™🇰🇪© (@wambuajames_) July 25, 2019
Off course we bickered and hollered until our throats were sore and voices went hoarse, then moved on.
However, a group of people refused to let this die, as ‘normal’ Kenyans would. Led by @JerotichSeii, this new breed of Kenyans decided to do something about it.
The March for #EnergyJusticeKE organized by #SwitchOffKPLC is here with us. Join Kenyans for a few hours as they march from Freedom Corner to Parliament & Harambee Avenue to present petitions. July 25th is the day. See you there.
Thank you @JerotichSeii for this call to action. pic.twitter.com/HHsddnS5WT
— Wanjikũ Revolution™ (@WanjikuRevolt) July 22, 2019
All along @JerotichSeii has been right about @KenyaPower_Care ‘s sins and now that the CEO has admitted that KPLC has lost 35m,he needs to find out how much customers have lost over a long period
— AbuSakeena (@FauzKhalid) July 24, 2019
#SwitchOffKPLC
What happened to the so called fighter apollo mboya who started all this, but for sure kplc is one of the reason that kenya is not growing economically, someone starts a barber shop and after shaving 60 people in a month the bill is 25k, we can’t move on with this pic.twitter.com/ggNFhIxk52— Lord Abraham Mutai jr 🗨 (@itsJohnMwenda) July 25, 2019
WaKenya: today, we march for Energy Justice. Come in your numbers. Come as you are. We will stand together.
Thank you for your solidarity. Never taken for granted.
Power to the people! ✊🏾#SwitchOffKPLC
PS: please bring drinking water & leave your valuables behind. pic.twitter.com/bl65pthDMu
— #SwitchOffKPLC (@JerotichSeii) July 25, 2019
Today we choose to have our voices heard. Never again shall Kenyans suffer under cartels that have outrun our great nation.#SwitchOffKPLC pic.twitter.com/lovbtBSGkF
— The Hansard 📜📑🗞️ (@JeffGitari_254) July 25, 2019
After a night of darkness and failing my client because KPLC didn’t send my tokens I am taking the day off I come to Uhuru park. I need to tell them I can’t take this anymore#SwitchoffKPLC.
— Mo’s De (@wekenyanwriter) July 25, 2019
Haki yetu is just a phrase!! We have no haki to exercise our haki. Well, time to stop the thieves from thieving is now. #SwitchOffKPLC pic.twitter.com/bYoUAyuyHc
— Living Life (@MaishaUtani) July 25, 2019
So instead of remaining ‘keyboard warriors’, they organised a peaceful protest to petition the president to intervene.
These are the kind of people who should be elected to top office. At least they care about the needs of the people.
But their peaceful protest was not to be, as police showed up and lobbed teargas at participants, turning the CBD into a smokey affair.
Police lobby teargass at #SwitchOffKPLC demonstrators who have take to the streets to protest high power bills. One journalist suffers injuries in the scuffle.
More details to follow here on #TheDailyBrief. pic.twitter.com/fpB42xXcmD— K24 TV (@K24Tv) July 25, 2019
Is it just me, or do Kenya police sometimes behave like that naught child who sneaks up to switch off lights at a party?
ACTIVISTS teargassed in Nairobi CBD while demonstrating against high power cost; police say they had not notified them. #SwitchOffKPLC pic.twitter.com/DfWFLODUFL
— CapitalFM Breaking News (@BreakingNewsKE) July 25, 2019
A protestor with #SwitchOffKPLC was thrown in the boot of this car KCG 230L @PoliceKE @IPOA_KE @ODPP_KE @DCI_Kenya pic.twitter.com/lv90DPlS1l
— Nivi (@AmkaKenya) July 25, 2019
But even with all the teargas, the activists still got their way.
KPLC mints billions from poor kenyans, however it is not among the highest taxpayers! Is this acceptable? The govt should #SwitchOffKPLC @KenyaPower_Care @MukamiWaEmbu @johnnjenga pic.twitter.com/1YYBmdYTWJ
— James Wambua™🇰🇪© (@wambuajames_) July 25, 2019
#AmKenyan Petition 1 received at the Supreme Court. Heading to parliament now. #SwitchOffKPLC #STOPTHESETHIEVES @dkmaraga pic.twitter.com/V8gfOATdA7
— #STOPTheseTHIEVES (@WanjeriNderu) July 25, 2019
The morale of the story; if you want something, be stubborn.