Cost of electricity to reduce by 15% by end of December – Uhuru announces
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that the cost of electricity will go down by 15 per cent by the end of December.
In his address during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at the newly refurbished Uhuru Gardens, Uhuru said that this will be the first phase of the reduction of energy cost.
The other 15 per cent reduction according to the president will be implemented early next year in a move aimed at moderating Kenyans from high energy costs.
“In response to the concerns over the high cost of electricity raised by both individual consumers and enterprises, I am pleased to announce to the nation that the reduction of the cost of electricity will be implemented in two phases of 15% each,” Uhuru said.
The commander in chief said that the first 15% will be achieved through initial actions focusing on system and commercial losses, to be reflected in the December bills, and a further 15% reduction, in the first quarter of 2022.
The President added that he is determined to honour the promise he made to Kenyans and in response to the concerns over the high cost of electricity raised by both individual consumers and enterprises.
Uhuru further said that the Ministry of Energy had initiated engagements with Independent Power Producers (IPP) aimed at renegotiation of power purchase agreements for consumers and enterprises.
“In realising the second tranche of the reduction in power bills, the Ministry of Energy has initiated engagements with Independent Power Producers aimed at renegotiation of power purchase agreements; to give better value for money for consumers,” he said.
In September, the President gave Kenya Power Company four months to review all power purchase deals with independent producers to pave way for a reduction in the cost of electricity by 30 per cent.
The implementation of the reduction of energy cost by 30 % comes after the president issued a directive in October to the Ministry of Energy to fast track the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Taskforce on Power Purchase Agreements.
