Business

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) on Friday, October 16, held a consultative forum with small and medium sized enterprise (SMEs) owners from Ngong and surrounding areas to address electricity related challenges affecting businesses and to strengthen partnership with its customers. The meeting brought together KPLC officials led Ms. Tracy Konchellah who is incharge of the customer experience in Ngong office in partnership with ABSA Bank Ngong led by the Branch Manager Henry Muteti. Some of the concerns discussed during the meeting included power interruptions, electricity bills to safety, illegal connections and electricity poles obstructing roads. Speaking during the forum, Bishop Henry Omae warned against illegal electricity connections, saying they pose a serious threat to human life and property. He also raised concerns over power rationing and interruptions, noting that businesses dealing in fresh and perishable products, particularly milk, are among those most affected by unreliable electricity supply. Omae called on Kenya Power to intensify public awareness campaigns through community “barazas” to educate residents on electricity safety and the dangers associated with illegal connections. He said community based sensitisation would help residents understand the risks of unsafe electricity practices and encourage responsible use of power. The issue of electricity poles left standing in the middle of roads was raised during the meeting, with residents seeking intervention to improve road safety and accessibility. Karen Msombi, a Customer Experience Officer at KPLC’s Karen area office, acknowledged that the company was aware of cases where electricity poles remained on roads following construction works. Msombi explained that Kenya Power works with various stakeholders involved in road construction to ensure electricity infrastructure is addressed before projects begin. “As an organisation, KPLC partners with various stakeholders who undertake road construction so that we can work together. By the time construction begins, KPLC should have engaged the stakeholders on how poles along the road are going to be moved” Msombi said. She noted that where poles had not been relocated, it could indicate that Kenya Power had not been involved in the initial consultations with the relevant stakeholders. She pledged to follow up on the electricity pole left standing in the middle of Rubis to Jua Kali road in Ngong Town. “We will go back to the office, talk to the relevant department that is concerned with that issue, together with our boss, so that action can be taken to remove the pole from the road,” Msombi said. She emphasised the importance of cooperation between the utility company and the business community, noting that their shared success depends on working together. “For KPLC to succeed and for businesses to succeed, we have to work together,” Msombi said. Konchellah highlighted infrastructure and customer service improvements undertaken over the past year to strengthen electricity supply across Ngong Sub County and neighbouring areas. According to the company, the Ngong service area, which covers Ngong, Matasia, Kiserian, parts of Rongai and Kibiko, serves approximately 70,000 customer accounts, including prepaid and postpaid domestic consumers, small businesses and large commercial customers. She further said the company replaced more than 400 ageing wooden poles with concrete poles in Matasia, Kiserian and Oloolua to help reduce outages and improve network reliability. It also installed or upgraded 15 transformers in high growth areas, including Kibiko, Merisho and Nazarene, to address low voltage and overloading. “Additionally, approximately six kilometres of low voltage lines were upgraded from single phase to three phase electricity to support growing demand, particularly from businesses. Routine maintenance, including the tightening of loose connections at more than 120 substations, was also undertaken as part of efforts to improve the stability of the electricity network.” Konchellah said On customer service, KPLC said it had rolled out self service platforms, including the *977# USSD service and MyPower App, allowing customers to report outages, check bills and purchase electricity tokens without visiting its offices. Customers mostly raise concerns over electricity bills. Access to customer services were among the other issues discussed during the forum. In response to concerns about bills that do not clearly explain individual charges, KPLC said its bills now contain itemised details showing fixed charges, energy consumption, fuel cost charges, foreign exchange adjustments, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) levies, value-added tax, arrears and advance payments, where applicable. The company encouraged customers to register for electronic bills through *977# or the MyPower App to receive detailed monthly bills and SMS breakdowns. The officials said the self service platforms were intended to make it easier for customers to access information and resolve routine service issues. Msombi also urged electricity consumers to remain vigilant against fraudsters impersonating Kenya Power employees. She encouraged customers to use the company’s “Jua for Sure” facility to verify the identity of individuals claiming to be KPLC staff before allowing them to undertake work or provide services. “All payments must be made through Kenya Power accounts and not through personal mobile numbers,” Msombi said. Customers were further advised to report electrical faults through official channels rather than attempting to handle dangerous situations themselves. KPLC provided the following customer support contacts: the national emergency and fault lines, 97771 and 0703 070 707, the *977# USSD service, the MyPower App, and the Ngong office direct line, 0721 735 290. Mr Menye, a resident of Gichagi in Ngong, urged Kenya Power to extend consultative meetings to village level, saying such engagements would help educate residents, particularly on electricity safety. He noted that taking the forums closer to communities would give more residents an opportunity to raise concerns and receive guidance directly from the utility company. The call echoed concerns raised during the meeting about the need for stronger communication between Kenya Power and electricity consumers. Konchellah said KPLC Ngong office had organised the engagement because small businesses play a critical role in the local economy. “As KPLC Ngong office, we organised this business engagement because we recognise that small businesses are the backbone of Ngong’s economy. Our aim is to strengthen the growing partnership between KPLC and the business community, while fostering greater cohesion…

For the past six years, Masai Cafe has been serving residents, travellers and visitors in Kiserian with authentic Kenyan flavours, warm hospitality and a growing range of services that go beyond the traditional restaurant experience. Located in Kiserian Town, a vibrant commercial and service centre in Kajiado County, the café offers African cuisine, expertly prepared nyama choma, freshly brewed coffee, African tea, Dawa, herbal teas, fresh juices and a variety of beverages. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a destination for family dining, friends’ meetups, business lunches, birthdays, celebrations and casual gatherings. Its location also gives the café a distinctive cultural identity, being situated in an area associated with the rich Maasai culture of Kajiado County. A taste of Kajiado Among the café’s popular offerings is its coffee au lait, prepared using fresh milk sourced from Kajiado County. “One of our most loved products is coffee au lait with fresh milk from Kajiado County. Our customers, who interestingly are mostly men, love it,” said Café Manager Jairus Ocharo. He added that the café’s freshly brewed African tea, Dawa and herbal teas such as hibiscus tea have also become popular with customers. The restaurant’s connection to local agriculture goes even further through its farm in Kajiado County. According to Ocharo, about 70 percent of the café’s products are organic, with the farm supplying a range of products including milk, cassava, tomatoes, kales, carrots and arrowroots. The farm to table model has enabled the business to create employment while strengthening its connection with local agriculture. The farm employs an average of 10 workers per month, while the café directly employs 26 people and has five marketing staff. The restaurant currently serves an average of 500 customers per month according to the manager More than a restaurant Masai Cafe has expanded its services to include outside catering, event organisation and a children’s play area with bouncy castles. The facility also has a cosy conference space suitable for Chama meetings, business meetings, training sessions and other gatherings. The management says it is positioning the café as a hub where members of the local business community can meet, network, hold exhibitions and explore new opportunities. “We have been branded as the ‘Masai Kempinski’ or the ‘Masai Art Cafe’ by our clients because of our customer service and attention to detail, especially when it comes to hygiene. Our staff are well trained in customer service,” Ocharo said. Giving back to the community Masai Cafe’s connection with the community also extends beyond its commercial activities. Through its farm in Kajiado County, the business has participated in various community social responsibility initiatives, including donating foodstuffs, visiting sick members of the community and supporting local churches. The initiatives reflect the café’s desire to contribute to the wellbeing of the wider community while growing its business. A business hub for Kiserian Kiserian is an important service and commercial centre in Kajiado County. The town serves as a major stopover for travellers heading to and from areas including Magadi and Isinya, as well as visitors travelling to the Ngong Hills. Tourism, commerce, livestock trade, agriculture, transport and real estate are among the key economic activities in Kiserian and its surrounding areas according to the Ngong Municipality charter. The 2019 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics census recorded the population of Kiserian’s urban centre at 76,903, with current projections cited by local stakeholders putting the population at more than 109,000. It is against this backdrop of a growing population and expanding business environment that Masai Cafe is seeking to establish itself not only as a hospitality destination, but also as a meeting point for entrepreneurs and the wider business community. Three day business expo As part of this vision, Masai Cafe will host a three day business Expo from 28th to 30th August 2026. The expo will bring together entrepreneurs, businesses, customers and members of the public for three days of business networking, product showcasing and community engagement. The event will officially open on Friday, 28th August, with an opening ceremony. The expo will then be open free of charge to all members of the public, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to interact with participating businesses and discover different products and services. On Saturday, 29th August, the programme will focus on business networking, a business talk and product showcase. The networking session is expected to provide entrepreneurs and business owners with an opportunity to connect, share ideas and explore potential partnerships, while the product showcase will allow participating businesses to put their products and services directly before potential customers. The expo will conclude on Sunday, 30th August, with an awarding ceremony and other activities. According to the organisers, the expo is part of Masai Cafe’s broader ambition to become a hub where the local business community can meet, network, showcase products, hold exhibitions and build new business relationships. Opportunity for businesses and sponsors The expo also provides businesses with an opportunity to increase their visibility, reach new customers and interact directly with other entrepreneurs and members of the public. Businesses interested in booking exhibition space or organisations seeking sponsorship opportunities can contact the organisers on: 0796 918 8480713 023 7630721 200 604 With free public access to the expo, the organisers are inviting residents, entrepreneurs, business owners, families and visitors to attend and experience the three-day event. For Masai Cafe, the Business Expo represents another step in its evolution from a restaurant into a wider food, culture, business and community hub in Kiserian. Masai Cafe Business Expo — 28th to 30th August 2026.

Plans to establish a football viewing hall along Drive 18, Kangawa Road, Oloolua Ward, Kajiado North have sparked debate among residents, with some supporting the proposal while others have raised concerns about security, public participation and possible social impacts. Mr Kennedy Odongo wrote to the local Nyumba Kumi committee on 18 April 2026, seeking permission to establish the facility. In his letter, Odongo stated that the proposed hall would be used strictly for watching football matches. He said the facility would provide local youth and residents with a convenient and safe place to watch football without having to travel long distances to other viewing centres. According to Odongo, the premises would remain closed after matches to help maintain peace and order in the neighbourhood. However, some residents have opposed the proposal, citing concerns over insecurity, idleness and other anti-social behaviour that they fear could arise around the facility. Others have questioned whether adequate public participation involving immediate neighbours was conducted before the proposal was made. A resident of Kangawa, however, supported the proposed facility, arguing that the area could benefit from businesses and recreational facilities. “The resident said Kangawa would struggle to develop if residents continued opposing initiatives they considered beneficial to the community.” The resident said Incase, the business gets a thumbs up from the residents, the proposed facility would be required to comply with applicable county and national licensing requirements before commencing operations. According to the Kajiado County Finance Bill 2026, there is currently no specific category listed as a “football viewing hall.” Such a business may therefore fall under the applicable category for video show or entertainment facilities, depending on how the county classifies the premises. The Finance Bill lists charges for video-show facilities. A large video-show facility with more than 100 seats attracts a fee of KSh30,000 in Zone A and KSh15,000 in Zone B, while a small video-show facility attracts KSh5,000 in Zone A and KSh3,000 in Zone B. The operator would also be expected to meet relevant public health and fire safety requirements, including adequate ventilation, emergency exits and sanitation facilities, before obtaining the necessary clearance and inspection certificates. At the national level, facilities exhibiting films or other regulated audiovisual content may also be subject to requirements administered by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) under the Films and Stage Plays Act. Where copyrighted music is played as part of the audiovisual content, the operator may also need the appropriate copyright licence from the relevant collective management organisation. Members of the public can raise objections or concerns about proposed entertainment facilities where they believe the development could create security problems, excessive noise, environmental concerns, general nuisance or expose children to inappropriate content. Such concerns can be presented to the relevant county authorities and other regulatory bodies during the applicable approval and public participation processes. The debate in Kangawa now centres on whether the proposed football viewing hall can provide a useful recreational space for residents while addressing the concerns raised by neighbours over security, licensing and the character of the neighbourhood.