KEY POINTS
- Kenya Power’s Kennedy Wambani Oduor was arrested for allegedly receiving a Sh20,000 bribe in Vihiga.
- He allegedly threatened to disconnect a nonprofit’s power supply unless paid Sh50,000 in extortion.
- Oduor appeared before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court and was released on Sh200,000 cash bail.
A Kenya Power employee is facing criminal charges after allegedly threatening to disconnect a nonprofit’s electricity supply unless he was paid a bribe.
Kennedy Wambani Oduor, attached to the Mbale-Vihiga office of Kenya Power, was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission following an operation in which he allegedly received Sh20,000. The arrest is the result of a complaint that stretches back more than three years.
The trouble started in October 2022. God’s Vision for Africa, a nonprofit operating in Vihiga County, reported a damaged and unsafe electricity pole near its premises. Kenya Power received the reports. Nothing happened. The organization eventually replaced the pole privately, at its own cost, to eliminate the risk of electrocution and fire.
A threat that triggered an investigation
That is when Oduor allegedly intervened. Investigators say he became agitated over the private replacement and threatened to disconnect the nonprofit’s electricity supply unless it paid him Sh50,000.
The organization reported the threat to the EACC. Investigators launched a probe and conducted a sting operation. Oduor was arrested in the act of allegedly collecting Sh20,000, a reduced amount from the original demand. The case file went to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved bribery charges under the Anti-Bribery Act, 2016.
Court appearance and what the EACC is saying
Oduor appeared before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on May 7, 2026. He was released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 with a similar surety.
The EACC said the case reflects its ongoing drive to root out corruption inside public service institutions. The commission warned utility officers against using their positions to extort citizens, particularly vulnerable communities dependent on essential services.
Kenya Power has faced persistent criticism over service delivery failures and staff conduct in rural counties. This arrest adds a fresh accountability flashpoint to that record.
