Clean up KP to spare consumers agony
Six years after the Ministry of Energy promised that heavy investment towards powering the country will pay off with cheaper, cleaner energy the cost of electricity keeps increasing to new highs.
As a matter of fact, the ministry planned to reduce the cost of electricity by 47 per cent by 2017, citing increased power generation from cheaper sources.
Several billions later, consumers are being called upon to sort out Kenya Powers finances amid the pain caused by expensive electricity, which is a mockery to Kenyan consumers and the economy.
A recent decision by the energy regulator to charge consumers Sh1.7 billion more annually for what is technically known as system losses was uncalled for, coming from a monopoly.
These losses, which are a result of theft by staff and unscrupulous consumers, must not be the reason why Kenyans are made to pay an extra shilling for electricity.
Unacceptable practice
Indeed, stealing from the utility is an economic crime given that the cost of electricity is a key cog in driving the cost of living and particularly ease of doing business.
It must pique every Kenyan’s curiosity that a monopoly that posted a Sh262 million profit after tax in June 2019, in what was a significant dip from Sh3.27 billion for the year ending June 2018, is now asking for a bail-out.
Allowing the company to treat consumers an open cheque that can be tapped any time they want relief is not only unacceptable but is immoral.
The newly appointed board must start flexing its muscles and heads must start rolling to ensure the firm which is supposed to make life easier for Kenyans fits the bill.
They must seal the loopholes that lead to such big losses and make the firm efficient.
Above all, maybe it is time Kenya fast-tracked the law that would allow for liberation of the electricity supply market, and bring in competitors to the sector.
This would bring on board an alternative electricity distributor and end the close to a century of Kenya Power’s monopoly that has all that time let Kenyans down.
