Reforms To Resolve Perennial Power Outages,Says CS Juma

NAIROBI,kenya, Jan, 13 – Days after Kenya experienced a nationwide power black out following the collapse of the Kiambere-Embakasi high voltage transmission power line Energy Cabinet Secretary Dr. monica Juma says that energy regulators are working hard to ensure that the crisis does not occur again.

The incident left millions in the dark with scores of business experiencing loses as a result of the incident.

“The Ministry of Energy is hard at work to ensure that the experience of the last two days does not recur.  I commend our staff from Kenya Power and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) who worked round the clock to repair the faults and restore power across the country,” said Juma.

Juma says that the ongoing reforms in the sector will seek to permanently address the challenges that have have been a thorn in the flesh of many.

“The power outages in the last two days underscore the imperative and urgency of implementing the proposed reforms in our power sector to ensure stable and reliable power supply,” she said.

There CS said that stakeholders in the energy sector are well in course to ensure that recommendations by a presidential task force to ensure the price of electricity in the country is lowered has been fulfilled in its entirety.

Stakeholders have been engaged in renegotiations of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)  seeking to strike a deal that will accomplish an equitable resolution where investment responds to the needs of the country.

Juma had last year called on the Independent Power producers (IPPs) to come forward to the negotiating table and engage towards,”win– win solutions,” that would secure a sustainable energy sector in the country.

Recently, the cost of power reduced in Kenya, following a reduction in power tariffs by 15 per cent.

In a statement, the Ministry of Energy said the move is part of a 30 percent reduction promise given by President Uhuru Kenyatta late last year to help ease the economic burden Kenyans are facing.

The Ministry said it will effect the next 15 percent trance before March.

In October 2020, President Kenyatta had directed the Ministry to fast-track the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Taskforce on Power Purchase Agreements.

The government in October froze all pending and ongoing contracts with independent power producers as the utility firm reviews the existing agreements to lower the cost of electricity in the country.