THIS IS WHAT MATIANG’I WILL DO TO KENYA POWER

The government now says it will move in with speed to overhaul the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) in a bid to reduce the cost of power and tame the ever growing losses at the parastatals.

According to Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, the ministries will move with speed to implement President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directives issued last week to cushion Kenyans and other industrialists from the high power bills.

Matiang’i says the overhaul at the power agency will take off immediately.

ICT CS Joe Mucheru and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i During a Fund Drive Event in Kajiado.TWITTER

“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 costs of electricity we are paying will come down,” Matiang’i stated.The Interior CS added that the high cost of power was affecting the country’s competitiveness in attracting local and foreign investments and also frustrating  businesses’ profitability.

Matiang’i, who also doubles as the chair of the Cabinet Committee on National Government Projects, stated that the government will implement the proposed reforms by a taskforce appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The move comes after the taskforce led by John Ngumi recommended an overhaul of the electricity supply company which would be supervised by Matiang’i.

In addition, it also recommended a review of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between KPLC and private firms.

The taskforce blamed the high cost of electricity in the country on contracts that unfairly benefited independent power producers at the expense of KPLC and consumers. It recommended the review of such contracts within four months.

Matiang’i was speaking during a fund raiser for the SDA Nairobi-Kajiado church headquarters  in Kajiado. Also in attendance were CSs Joe Mucheru, Eugene Wamalwa and Kajiado Governor, Joseph ole Lenku.

CS Mucheru used the opportunity to call for the youth to register in large numbers during the countrywide voter registration drive.

By Kenyans