Matiang’i says planned Kenya Power overhaul begins immediately
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has announced that the planned overhaul of Kenya Power will begin immediately.
Matiang’i who also chairs the Cabinet Committee on National Government Projects said the government, would implement the proposed reforms on Kenya Power as recommended by a taskforce.
The CS said the government has been consulting with concerned stakeholders to make the cost of power affordable to Kenyans and in turn improve livelihoods.
“In the coming weeks, we will launch an aggressive program to address the challenges in the energy sector.
We are certain that the prices of fuel will not only come down but even the bills and the cost of electricity will come down.’
He said the high cost of power was affecting the county’s competitiveness in attracting local and foreign investments and also frustrating businesses’ profitability.
The taskforce on Kenya Power chaired by John Ngumi blamed the high cost of electricity in the country on contracts that unfairly benefited independent power producers and recommended a review of all such contracts within four months.
It proposed an overhaul of Kenya Power to be supervised by the Cabinet and a review of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between KPLC and private firms.
This will see the cost of energy reduced from Sh24 to Sh16 per KWh effective December 31, in what will cushion consumers from high cost of living.
The taskforce, which handed its report to President Uhuru Kenyatta last week, was constituted in response to calls from a cross section of Kenyans to address concerns about the high cost of electricity.
Speaking at a fundraiser of Nairobi South Kajiado Seventh Day Church Birika in Kajiado County yesterday, Matiang’i said following wide consultation with stakeholders, the government had identified gaps and challenges in production and supply of power and it is set to address them urgently.
Accompanied by CSs Joe Mucheru (ICT), Eugene Wamalwa (Defence), Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku and Kajiado West MP George Sunkuiya, Matiang’i at the same time challenged religious leaders to be pro-active in encouraging their followers to undertake Covid-19 jabs.
Leaders who spoke at the event urged religious leaders to play a role in guiding their members to make better choices during elections.
