- The government is determined to address the issue of power security in the country, with the Ethiopia-Kenya transmission line set to be launched soon.
- Kenya is set to retire its investments in thermal sources in the country and transition fully to green renewable energy generation by 2030.
The government is determined to address the issue of power security in the country, with the Ethiopia-Kenya transmission line set to be launched soon. Energy Principal Secretary (PS) Mr Alex Wachira said the line would supply additional Megawatts (MW) of power to the national grid and help stabilize the country`s energy needs. The PS said the prolonged drought has significantly reduced the country`s energy supply from hydro, where he said despite the recent rains, the waters in Masinga dam, for instance, had increased by only two meters. He was speaking when he appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy members in Naivasha on Monday.
Wachira said they were looking at the tariffs charged to bring the cost of electricity down and return Kenya Power Company Limited (KP) to profitability. He noted that there was a need to fast-track the implementation of power projects as doing so would ensure access to cheap power for consumers. However, The PS decried the continued vandalism of transformers in the country, noting that the power utility company loses an average of 20 transformers in a week, negatively affecting the company’s operations. He regretted that the losses are passed on to consumers through increased bills, affecting the economy. Wachira singled out Othaya in Nyeri and Ndaragwa in Nyandarua counties as leading in vandalism, leaving Wananchi in darkness.
The vandalism of transformers is said to be motivated by the high demand for copper wires in the black market, with the PS urging Parliament to legislate laws that will push unscrupulous dealers off the market by imposing heavy fines and sentences to those found involved in the illegal trade. The PS stated that Kenya has also managed to increase its electricity production from 1,600megawatts (MW) in 2013 to about 3,300Megawatts in 2023. He noted that Kenya is set to retire its investments in thermal sources in the country and transition fully to green renewable energy generation by 2030.