Kenya

Getting Electricity in

Kenya

Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building in Kenya.

This information was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 185 economies. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2012.

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  • Standardized Company

  • Name of Utility: Kenya Power and Lighting Co. Ltd
  • City: Nairobi

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Submit application to Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd (KPLC) and await site inspection

The client submits the following documents:
• Enquiry for supply of electricity form –Collected from KPLC and duly filled out
• Copy of Certificate of registration
• Copy of PIN Certificate
• Sketch Map to the Premises
• Permit from city council to show that the land is occupied legally and structure is correctly done and approved by city council
KPLC conducts external site inspection during this period and gives recommendations if client has not met standard requirements or price estimate/quote if all standards are met and procedures for set-up can proceed. During this inspection period KPLC looks at some key aspects that also determine the price estimate that the client will receive.
• Amount of power required for the building.
• Existing infrastructure (Poles and transformers) and their proximity to the premises. It is important to note that if the premise is within 600m of existing infrastructure, this considerably lowers the cost.
• Way leaves clearance –Pathways for laying down infrastructure and any permits or notifications needed to facilitate this.

Agency: Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd 		28 calendar days no charge
2 Receive site visit from KPLC and await estimate

KPLC conducts external site inspection and gives recommendations if client has not met standard requirements or price estimate/quote if all standards are met and procedures for set-up can proceed. During this inspection period KPLC looks at some key aspects that also determine the price estimate that the client will receive.
Agency: Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd 		14 calendar days no charge
3 Customer pays estimate and signs supply contract

Connection costs include capital contribution charges for network reinforcement for upto 1000 meters. Customer fills in Supply Contract form and submits to the Meter Installation section through the customer service department. Customer also submits internal wiring clearance certificate from electrician.
Agency: Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd 		1 calendar day KES 860,000.0
4 Customer calls utility and collects meter and meter number


Agency: Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd 		13 calendar days no charge
* 5 Customer obtains excavation permit from City Council and submits to utility

Customer needs to obtain an excavation permit from the City Council.
Agency: City Council 		5 calendar days KES 7,500.0
6 KPLC conducts external connection works, meter installation and electricity starts flowing

External connection works are done by Distribution Department, and while reaching completion, they inform the Meter Installation Section in Customer Service Department to complete metering. This is an internal procedure, and the customer is not involved.
Agency: Kenya Power and Lighting Company Ltd 		90 calendar days no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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