Energy CS Monica Juma has explained the need to have reforms at Kenya Power.
She was responding after Kenya experienced a two-day power outage over faulty lines in different areas.
In a series of tweets on Thursday, Juma said the power outage underscores the ‘imperative and urgency’ needed for the reforms.
“This will ensure a stable and reliable power supply,” she said.
“The Ministry of Energy is hard at work to ensure that the experience of the last two days does not recur.”
Juma commended KPLC and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) who worked round the clock to repair the faults and restore power across the country.
“I call upon all Kenyans, institutions, employees in the energy sector and our partners to rally behind and support these reforms,” she said.
Kenya Power said the outage on its grid happened after towers supporting a high-voltage power line linking Nairobi to the Kiambere hydroelectric dam collapsed.
In 2021, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i said the Government will implement the proposed reforms on KPLC by a task force appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in March this year.
In the report, the task force proposed an overhaul of the KPLC to be supervised by the Cabinet and are view of the Power Purchase Agreements between KPLC and private firms.
The task force on KPLC blamed the high cost of electricity in the country on contracts that unfairly benefited independent power producers at the expense of KPLC and consumers and recommended the review of all such contracts within four months. BY DAILY NATION