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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of 
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
    Filed by the Registrant / /
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant /X/
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Proxy Statement
    /X/  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to Rule 14a-11  or
         or Rule 14a-12
 
               KANSAS CITY POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) 
 
                    WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) 
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/ /  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(I)(1), or 14a-6(I)(2)
/ /  $500 per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act
     Rule 14a-6(I)(3)
/ /  Fee computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules  14a-6(I)(4) 
     and 0-11

     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: 
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     3) Per unit  price  or  other  underlying  value  of  transaction
          computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:*
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     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
     was determined.
 
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was
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     4) Date Filed:
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/x/  Filing fee paid with preliminary filing.




The following advertisment is being used beginning July 24, 1996:


Attention KCPL shareowners.  Vote for Value.  Vote TODAY!

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO VALUE.
_________________________________________________________________

WESTERN RESOURCES' OFFER*
Dividend per KCPL share:
$2.00-$2.35

Price per KCPL share:
$31.00
_________________________________________________________________

The choice is clear.  Choose Value.  Choose Western Resources.

Vote AGAINST the Proposed Merger With UtiliCorp.
Vote NO On The GOLD PROXY CARD.

[logo]
Western Resources

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR OFFER, CALL GEORGESON & COMPANY, ASSISTING US
AT 1-800-223-2064, OR ACCESS OUR WEB SITE AT www.wstnres.com.

* Dividend per KCPL share is based upon Western Resources' projected post-merger
1998 annual dividend rate of $2.14 per share of Western Resources common stock
and the exchange ratio in Western Resources' offer.  Price per KCPL share
(payable in Western Resources common stock) assumes that Western Resources'
average share price is between $28.18 and $33.23 at the time of closing.


        This news release is neither an offer to exchange nor a 
     solicitation of an offer to exchange shares of common stock of KCPL. 
     Such offer is made solely by the Prospectus dated July 3, 1996, and 
     the related Letter of Transmittal, and is not being made to, nor will 
     tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of shares of common 
     stock of KCPL in any jurisdiction in which the making of such offer or 
     the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of 
     such jurisdiction. In any jurisdictions where securities, blue sky or 
     other laws require such offer to be made by a licensed broker or 
     dealer, such offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Western 
     Resources, Inc. by Salomon Brothers Inc or one or more registered 
     brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
The following press release and employee update was issued on July 24, 1996:

     WESTERN RESOURCES' GROWTH, STRATEGY 
     IN SECURITY SERVICES BUSINESS CONTINUES
     
     WESTAR SECURITY BUYS KANSAS CITY SECURITY BUSINESS
     
         TOPEKA, Kansas, July 24, 1996 -- Westar Security, a wholly-owned 
     subsidiary of Western Resources, today announced its expansion into 
     the Kansas City security services market. Westar Security's expansion 
     continues Western Resources' planned strategic growth in the security 
     services industry.
        Already one of the nation's fastest growing security companies, 
     Westar Security's acquisition of Sentry Protective Alarms will add 
     Kansas City to Westar's security operations, as well as Sentry's 
     offices in Omaha, Atlanta and Sacramento. Westar Security presently 
     has offices in Topeka and Wichita.
        This acquisition is consistent with Western Resources' corporate 
     strategy to become, through its Westar brand name, a national leader 
     in energy-related home services.
        "We have set very specific growth targets, and we pay close attention 
     to opportunities created by the rapidly changing marketplace," said John 
     E. Hayes, Jr., Western Resources chairman of the board and chief      
executive officer. "Our ties with the retail energy market and our      
experience in providing energy services gives us a substantial foundation      
to expand our security business. It's a natural fit for us, an extension      
of our ability to provide round-the-clock safety, reliability, and      
service."
        The monitored security business is an emerging growth market in the 
     United States that is extremely fragmented, Hayes said. This 
     acquisition brings the total number of Westar Security customers to 
     approximately 80,000.
        "We are excited to be in Kansas City," said Steve Millstein, 
     president of Westar Security. "This is a good market for us and we 
     plan on rapidly expanding our customer base and presence."
        Late last year, Western Resources acquired Mobilfone Security and 
     Communications & Signaling Inc., both providing residential and 
     commercial security services in the Midwest.
        "This most recent acquisition strengthens our participation in the 
     fast-growing monitored security business and supports our growth 
     strategy to acquire businesses with attractive revenue growth that 
     functionally relate to our core energy services," Hayes said. 
        Westar Security is a full-service security company providing 
     security systems and monitoring to residential and business customers 
     throughout the U.S.
     
        Western Resources (NYSE: WR) is a diversified energy company. Its 
     utilities, KPL and KGE, operating in Kansas and Oklahoma, provide 
     natural gas service to approximately 650,000 customers and electric 
     service to approximately 600,000 customers. Through its subsidiaries, 
     Westar Energy, Westar Security, Westar Capital, and The Wing Group, 
     energy-related products and services are developed and marketed in the 
     continental U.S., and offshore.
        For more information about Western Resources and its operating 
     companies, visit us on the Internet at http://www.wstnres.com.
    
        This news release is neither an offer to exchange nor a 
     solicitation of an offer to exchange shares of common stock of KCPL. 
     Such offer is made solely by the Prospectus dated July 3, 1996, and 
     the related Letter of Transmittal, and is not being made to, nor will 
     tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of shares of common 
     stock of KCPL in any jurisdiction in which the making of such offer or 
     the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of 
     such jurisdiction. In any jurisdictions where securities, blue sky or 
     other laws require such offer to be made by a licensed broker or 
     dealer, such offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Western 
     Resources, Inc. by Salomon Brothers Inc or one or more registered 
     brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
The following employee update was released to Western Resources, Inc. employees:

                WESTERN RESOURCES' CFO ISSUES MEMO TO THE STREET,
                  QUESTIONS MAXIM EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
     
        Steven L. Kitchen, Western Resources chief financial officer, today 
     issued a memorandum to the financial community questioning the 
     compensation plans for Maxim executive management for the proposed 
     UtiliCorp/KCPL merger.
        The memorandum explains to analysts and the financial community in 
     general that KCPL shareowners are being asked to approve, on their 
     August 7 shareowner meeting ballot, an executive stock option plan 
     worth $240 million based on KCPL's closing stock price last Friday. 
     These shareowners also are being asked to approve a bonus plan worth 
     up to $2 million per Maxim executive.
        "Management isn't just asking shareowners to consider the merger, 
     but also to approve significant increases in potential compensation for 
     itself," said Kitchen. "Shareowners certainly have the right to 
     understand these compensation issues, and we encourage them to contact 
     us or their brokers if they have questions."
        The following is a copy of the memorandum sent earlier today.
     
     
     MEMORANDUM
     
     TO:      Analysts and the Financial Community
     
     FROM:    Steven L. Kitchen, Western Resources, Chief Financial      
              Officer
     
     DATE:    July 15, 1996
     
     RE:      Maxim Executive Compensation Plans Questioned
     
     
     KCPL SHAREOWNERS SHOULD KNOW THERE IS MORE THAN ONE ISSUE ON AUGUST 7 
     UTILICORP/KCPL BALLOT
        KCPL shareowners are being asked to decide three issues at their 
     August 7 special meeting. Only one ballot issue deals directly with 
     the proposed merger with UtiliCorp. The other two deal solely with 
     financial compensation for Maxim executive management following the 
     merger of UtiliCorp and KCPL.
     
      WHAT ARE KCPL SHAREOWNERS REALLY VOTING FOR?
        KCPL shareowners are being asked to do the following:
        1.  Approve a management stock plan, which sets aside more than 
     $240 million worth of stock in the new merged company (based on KCPL 
     closing stock price on July 12, 1996) for Maxim executives. That is 
     approximately 9 million shares of common stock for Maxim executives 
     (see KCPL S-4 p. 77). 
        Currently, the KCPL directors and executive officers own less than 
     one percent of KCPL common stock. Under the plan, individual Maxim 
     executives could receive as much as $16 million worth (at last Friday's 
     close) or 600,000 shares per year (see KCPL S-4 p. 77). Based on the 
     Pro Forma common shares projected to be outstanding following the 
     proposed UtiliCorp/KCPL merger, this means the directors could award 
     executive management approximately 8 percent of the new company's 
     common stock.
        2. Approve a management bonus plan that allows short-term cash 
     bonuses to Maxim executives up to $2 million per person, per year (see 
     KCPL S-4 p. 77).
     
     JENNINGS' COMPENSATION JUMPS 191%
        The employment contract for Mr. Jennings, KCPL chairman of the 
     board, president, and chief executive officer, is even richer than the 
     initial $6 million estimate, as much as $8.350 million, plus benefits, 
     if he leaves KCPL following the UtiliCorp merger for good reason (see 
     KCPL S-4 F-1 para 1(b) and pg. F-4 para 5(a) 2).
        He can simply walk out the door after the third year with $5 
     million, plus benefits, in his pocket, no questions asked (see KCPL S-4 
     pg. F-4 para 5(a)(ii). 
        Mr. Jennings will be eligible, if the UtiliCorp merger is approved, 
     for annual bonuses of up to at least $1.04 million, making his total 
     potential compensation of at least $1.67 million annually (see KCPL S-4 
     p. 19), which would also apply to Mr. Richard C. Green, UtiliCorp 
     chairman and chief executive officer. That represents a 191 percent 
     increase -- or almost three times -- for Mr. Jennings' total 
     compensation for 1995. And, under the terms of the agreement, his 
     salary can never be reduced.
     
     WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
        It means much of the value projected by the UtiliCorp/KCPL proposal 
     is earmarked for Maxim executives rather than the owners and customers.
        We believe KCPL shareowners should question the motives of the 
     management-endorsed UtiliCorp proposal and KCPL management's rejection 
     of the Western Resources $31 stock offer, which we continue to believe 
     is financially superior.
     
        KCPL shareowners should vote AGAINST the UtiliCorp/KCPL proposal on 
     the GOLD proxy card and begin the process of tendering their shares to 
     Western Resources.
     
        We encourage you to contact us if KCPL shareowners have questions or 
     you wish to pass along comments.
        We also encourage you to provide to KCPL shareowners the 
     1-800-223-2064 telephone number of Georgeson & Company, who is 
     assisting us, so they can discuss the benefits of our offer.
        And finally, we can provide to you a listing of KCPL management and 
     board addresses and telephone numbers so KCPL shareowners can be heard.
     
     
        This employee update  is neither an offer to exchange nor a 
     solicitation of an offer to exchange shares of common stock of KCPL. 
     Such offer is made solely by the Prospectus dated July 3, 1996, and the 
     related Letter of Transmittal, and is not being made to, nor will 
     tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of shares of common 
     stock of KCPL in any jurisdiction in which the making of such offer or 
     the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such 
     jurisdiction. In any jurisdictions where securities, blue sky or other 
     laws require such offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, such 
     offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Western Resources, Inc. 
     by Salomon Brothers Inc or one or more registered brokers or dealers 
     licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.