Kenyans Slam KPLC After Delays In M-Pesa Token Purchase Service: "24 Hours Later, No Message"

• Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) customers experienced delays in token purchases throughout the weekend
• Kenyans took to social media, lamenting over delays for the services that extended up two days
• Safaricom Care confined the delays from their side and has since solved the issue that saw millions experience blackout

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenyans have expressed disappointment in Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) token purchase services.

This followed the Safaricom M-Pesa token payment service interruption for the better part of the weekend.

KPLC customers who purchased tokens as late as Sunday night were yet to receive their tokens as of Monday.

Safaricom Care confirmed the delays that affected thousands of Kenya Power customers, later resolving the issue.

"We experienced delays in the KPLC token purchase services, but the issue has since been resolved. We apologise for the inconvenience," said Safaricom in response to TUKO.co.ke.

What Kenyans said about KPLC token delays

The majority of Kenyans lamented staying in darkness after attempting to purchase the token via M-Pesa.

@C_Molly16 asked:

"Hello KPLC, are you off on Sundays? I have not received my tokens that I bought yesterday."

@magwaz3 asked:

"Why is it that KPLC and Safaricom M-Pesa are delaying with messages? What's going on? Are they planning to steal from us?"

@omwambaKE wondered:

"What is that I am hearing about KPLC this time round?"

@livin_omanga lamented:

"KPLC unabuy tokens, and 24 hours later, no message, no nothing."

@kevin_onduso cried out:

"No way after paying for tokens, I have to look KPLC social media handles to beg them to send my tokens which I paid for with my money. It has become a norm."

@msalat10 asked:

"What's not happening with KPLC tokens?" So much delay after making payment..

Is there another option to buy KPLC tokens?

@PiocheBrio asked:

"Is there another option for buying KPLC tokens?"

In 2022, KPLC issued a warning to customers and potential subscribers to pay for their services using authorised dealers.

The utility firm urged pre-paid customers to purchase tokens directly using M-Pesa pay bill 888880.

The utility firm also partnered with Airtel Kenya to allow customers to purchase electricity tokens with zero transaction charges.

Will KPLC migrate to govt single pay bill?

Some customers asked why the company still uses its own pay bill number instead of the government's single paybill.

President William Ruto directed all government services to be paid via a single pay bill number 222222.

Ruto's Cabinet summoned 17 state agencies, including the Kenya Power, over delays in migrating to the eCitizen payment model.