Tokens vendor handed contract

Kenya Power has retained the services of a controversial token vending firm to supply prepaid metres.

The power retailer has handed Professional Digital Systems Limited (PDSL) a three-year contract worth Sh405 million for supply of one million prepaid metres.

PDSL operates the VendIt platform, which sells power tokens on behalf of Kenya Power and earns a commission.

Kenya Power was last year heavily criticised by lawmakers for contracting private firms to distribute the prepaid units.

PDSL was single-sourced to provide “one million prepayment licences” because according to Kenya Power, the firm is the sole provider of the services in Kenya following its appointment as the exclusive dealer for Itron, the firm that supplied the prepaid system. The contract was signed in August last year and will run through to August 2021.

“Itron Measurement and Systems are the sole suppliers of the prepayment metering system solution to KPLC ad they have recently changed their commercial structure and appointed Professional Digital Systems Limited (PDSL) as their local exclusive representative to distribute licences and collection of subscriptions,” said Kenya Power on the Public Procurement Information Portal.