We are working to reduce power outages

Yatta MP Robert Basil with Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and REREC CEO Rose Mkalama during the commissioning and launch of power projects.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has sought to assure Kenyans that the government is making efforts to manage the power outages the country has experienced in the recent past.

The CS said the frequency of power outages has reduced and the time to restore power has also reduced.

He cited the power outage that occurred in some parts of the country on the morning of December 18, which he said was overcome in a short time.

“I am impressed that power was restored in three hours. The power outage was caused by a technical problem at the Tanzania-Kenya interconnection and only affected parts of the country,” Wandayi said.

According to a press release issued by Kenya Power, only parts of the Western and Northern Rift regions were not affected by the midnight power outage.

Wandayi said his ministry, together with the Kenya Power and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), was working hard to ensure that there will be no unusual power outages in the country.

“Kenyans should be assured that there will be no unusual power outages and that if they do occur from time to time, power will be restored as soon as possible. We have the capacity and the know-how,” he added.

He spoke in Yatta constituency during the commissioning and launch of several power projects implemented by REREC.

REREC CEO Rose Mkalama said over Sh53 million had been invested in power projects in the constituency in a bid to increase the number of households covered.

“Once these projects are completed, they will connect more than 4,000 homes to electricity. We are also undertaking survey and design in all constituencies to ensure we are ready to connect households to electricity as quickly as possible when funds are allocated by government,” Mkalama said.

Regional MP Robert Basil, for his part, pointed out that only 20 percent of his constituency is connected to electricity, challenging the ministry to accelerate electricity projects.

“This area is lagging behind. We have 20 percent connectivity in 635 villages. Today we received a big gift from the ministry and my appeal is that the remaining 600 villages should also be considered,” he said.

He urged the government to consider reducing taxes imposed on electricity to make it accessible to low-income Kenyans and provide a conducive environment for investors to conduct business.