Kenya Power Managing Director Bernard Ngugi Resigns

Bernard Ngugi addresses the media when he was appointed Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO on October 29, 2019.
Bernard Ngugi addresses the media when he was appointed Kenya Power managing director and CEO on October 29, 2019.
Capital Group

The Kenya Power Company, known by its NSE ticker KPLC, on Wednesday, August 4, announced the resignation of its Managing Director Bernard Ngugi. 

Ngugi has served as KPLC MD since 2019 when he was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta

In a statement, the electricity firm announced that Rosemary Oduor, who was General Manager Commercial Services and Sales will take over in an acting capacity.

Kenya Power MD Bernard Ngugi is given a tour of Jumbo Quality Products manufacturing plant by Group MD Jayesh Patel.
Kenya Power MD Bernard Ngugi is given a tour of Jumbo Quality Products manufacturing plant by Group MD Jayesh Patel.
File

Ngugi was appointed to serve as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Power by the Board of Directors in 2019.

He was the General Manager in charge of the Supply Chain before replacing Jared Othieno held the Managing Director position in an Acting capacity.

Eng. Oduor holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Electrical and Communications Engineering from Moi University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nairobi. 

"Eng. Rosemary has wide experience in power engineering and management having joined the Company in 1991 and served in various senior positions. Prior to her appointment, she was the Company's General Manager in charge of Commercial Services & Sales," a statement from Vivienne Yeda, Chairman Board of Directors read in part.

“The Board of Directors would like to assure all of Kenya Power’s stakeholders, that our priority remains the successful implementation of the growth strategy in order to place the Company firmly on the path towards sustainable profitability,” she added. 

Kenya Power moved to replace a bulk of its senior managers that served in an interim capacity from 2018 following the suspension of the previous team on corruption charges.

The firm has in the recent five years struggled with challenges relating to stunted growth, mega losses, and unstable corporate leadership. 

In November 2020,  Kenya Power admitted it was facing its biggest challenge yet as more Kenyans switch to solar power.

Kenya Power in its latest Annual Report, the electricity supplier, which is considered a monopoly in power distribution revealed that the move by industries to adopt solar power impacted their bottom line.

According to the report, industrial customers account for 54.8% of its sales revenue.

"The company operated in a challenging environment over the financial year under review, where demand growth at 3.7% remained below the projected level of 5%. 

The mass migration to solar power comes at a time when the state entity is grappling with huge volumes of idle electricity.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta launches Garissa Power Plant in Garissa County on Friday, December 13, 2019
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