The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has secured funding from the World Bank to support an off-grid solar access project and the procurement of electricity meters.

The development was announced in a tender notice issued on Tuesday, May 5, outlining plans to use the financing to expand access to electricity infrastructure and equipment.

“The Kenya Government has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Kenya Off- Grid Solar Access Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Procurement of Single Phase Pre-Paid Meters and Miniature Circuit Breakers,” the notice read 

Kenya Power further outlined the payment method under the contract, in line with World Bank financing guidelines.

“For this contract, the Borrower shall process the payments using the Direct Payment disbursement method, as defined in the World Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing,” the notice added.

As such, Kenya Power invited eligible bidders to participate in the procurement process for the required equipment.

“The Kenya Power and Lighting Company PLC now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for Procurement of Single Phase Pre-Paid Meters and Miniature Circuit Breakers as detailed in the issued bidding document,” the notice further read.

Kenya Power outlined the procurement method, stating that the bidding process will follow international standards set by the World Bank.

“Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”) and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations,” the notice concluded.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has revealed that interns under the Affordable Housing programme have not yet been paid due to a mix-up in the payroll.

Speaking on Tuesday, May 5, PS Hinga acknowledged the delay and assured the interns that they would receive their stipends within the week.

Hinga explained that the confusion arose during the merging of the payroll from the exchequer and the one for the interns.

“It is true the interns have not been paid. No one has actually been paid, including myself. What happened is that we have two budgets, the exchequer, which comes from the National Treasury, and the budget from the housing levy. So, there was a mistake when they combined the two payrolls, the exchequer and the one for interns.

“The interns were supposed to be paid by the 25th because we have that money, the other one for the exchequer, we usually wait until the treasury sends money to us,” said Hinga.

The Housing PS also mentioned that the technical error led to difficulties in separating the two payrolls, resulting in a delay in processing payments.

“There was a mix-up, and they were not able to desegregate the two payrolls and were told to wait for the exchequer to be sent. We have their money, it’s just that it was a mistake that should not have happened. In terms of processing the two payrolls,” he stated.

PS Hinga assured the Affordable Housing interns that the issue is being addressed and the payments will be in their accounts by Thursday, May 7, 2026.

“By tomorrow, at the latest on Thursday, the interns should be paid. I will follow up today because these are young people and it’s a stipend and they are out of pocket because they have to travel to sites,” Hinga added.

The interns began working at the Affordable Housing sites in January this year after being recruited by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

On January 23, President Ruto announced he had negotiated a deal with Consulting firms undertaking the project for the interns to receive an extra stipend.

Speaking at State House, Ruto disclosed that the government would pay interns a monthly stipend and urged the firms to also pay the interns some upkeep.

“We are going to pay a small stipend to these interns as they learn and help to supervise these sites. Consider paying them a small stipend, but I am not going to give you a number.

“As much as they want to learn, they need to go home and come back, pay rent a bit here and there, and survive,” the President stated.

President William Ruto has clarified the proposed plan to establish a joint oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania, after President Samia Suluhu said she had not been consulted.

Speaking on Monday, May 4 evening, during a joint press briefing, President Suluhu said she had sought an explanation from Ruto over the remarks in a prior conversation.

“When we were talking inside, I confronted Ruto and asked him why he announced a refinery in Tanga without my knowledge.

“Now he will explain himself why he made that announcement,” said the Tanzanian President.

In his response, President Ruto said the proposed refinery in Tanga was part of broader regional discussions on harnessing local resources and advancing industrialization.

Ruto noted that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame of Rwanda have shown interest in investing in the proposed refinery.

“Allow me to explain our discussion on Tanga as a refinery. I have been told that our announcement to build a refinery in Tanga has upset some people; if I had known, I would have announced it would be built in Mombasa instead.

“This is because the building of a refinery is a big opportunity for business, industrialization, petrochemical industries, fertilizer industries, plastics, and when I had a conversation with President Museveni, our discussion was about how to industrialize our region using our resources,” Ruto said.

The Head of State also mentioned that the private sector advised against the continued export of unprocessed resources.

“We have been advised by the private sector that the longer we continue to export raw materials, jobs, opportunities, and wealth, and in exchange importing inflation, which is not what we should be doing,” he stated.

Ruto also said he had discussed with President Suluhu for Tanzania to take the lead in the proposed construction of a refinery in Tanga.

“I have discussed with my sister that Tanzania should lead the way to make sure that we use the resources we have because we all realize that it is time for us to use the resources we have to industrialize our region,” Ruto stated.

He highlighted that Tanga is 190 kilometers away from Mombasa and could ease the movement of refined products across the region.

“It makes absolutely no sense for us to export crude oil to all manner of places, then we go struggle to import finished products with challenges in the Strait of Hormuz and all other places,” Ruto added.

This comes after Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote committed to setting up a major oil refinery in the East African region.

Speaking during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, Dangote said the project could produce 650,000-barrels-per-day, similar to the one he has set up in Nigeria.

“I can give commitment to the two presidents that are here: if they will support the refinery, we’ll build the identical one that we have in Nigeria – 650,000 barrels,” Dangote said.

During the summit, President Ruto said the refinery would be set up in Tanga, Tanzania, adding that the project would be a shared regional asset.

“We are going to have a joint refinery in Tanga to benefit all of us because that refinery is going to take on board the oil from DRC, the oil from Kenya, the oil from South Sudan, and the oil from Uganda,” said Ruto.