Kenya Power’s move to block third-party vendors like shops and banks from selling prepaid electricity tokens may have caught many Kenyans off-guard as the move, although not unprecedented, was unforeseen.
The state-owned body made the announcement on August 31, giving only a day for customers and vendors to adjust.
The Statement
“We wish to inform our prepaid and postpaid customers that effective September 1, purchase of prepaid tokens and payment of postpaid bills will only be made through the following authorized channels,” Kenya Power said in a notice.
“The purchase of prepaid tokens and payment of postpaid bills will only be made through the following authorized channels: Prepaid Channels (Tokens) M-PESA Paybill 888880; Postpaid Channels (Bills) M-PESA Paybill 888888 or Authorised banks (https://kplc.co.ke/content/item/30),” the statement further read.
Following the directive, financial institutions were quick to inform their customers through SMS of the immediate termination of the service. Below is a simple process on how you can buy your tokens through M-pesa.
How to get your tokens
Prepaid customers (Pay in advance).
Go to M-Pesa
Select Lipa na M-Pesa
Select Pay Bill
Enter Kenya Power-approved business number 888880.
Enter your meter number as the account number
Enter your amount and click send.
You will then receive your token details and amount of units equivalent to the amount spent
Postpaid Customers (Pay after using electricity)
Go to M-Pesa
Select Lipa na M-Pesa
Select Pay Bill
Enter Kenya Power approved business number 888888.
Enter your meter number as the account number
Enter your amount and click send
You will then receive your token details and amount of units equivalent to the amount spent
You can also purchase tokens or pay your bills via USSD code *977# or using this USSD code ( *8288#) to purchase tokens online
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