MPs want directive on electricity connection followed
Jamleck Kamau, the chairman of the Committee on Energy, Communication and Information in the National Assembly, speaks to journalists in Mombasa on June 5, 2015. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI |
What you need to know:
- Energy committee chairman says they will work closely with stakeholders in the sector.
- He also asked manufacturers to reduce their prices so as to benefit Kenyans.
The National Assembly's Committee on Energy, Communication and Information wants the presidential directive on the cost of power connections be implemented to the letter.
Addressing journalists at the Serena Beach Resort in Mombasa on Friday, the committee's chairman, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, said lawmakers would begin talks with Kenya Power and other players in the sector on how to implement the directive.
“On the 27th of May 2015, the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, commissioned the Last Mile Connection Project and the National School Electrification Project.
“As the committee that oversees the energy sector, we wish to categorically assert that we shall ensure that this programme is implemented to the letter according to the presidential directive,” Mr Kamau said.
President Kenyatta announced the reduction of power connection fees from Sh35,000 to Sh15,000 as part of the Jubilee government’s strategy to increase access to electricity.
Mr Kamau added that less than a third of Kenya is connected to the national grid, with the rural areas, where the majority of the population reside, being overlooked.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders and the public to ensure that Kenya Power is able to sufficiently handle and satisfy the increased number of applicants for power (connection), thus allowing more Kenyans to … benefit from the reduced cost of electricity,” the chairman added.
TAKE ADVANTAGE
The committee chairman urged the public to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for power connections for their homes and businesses.
He said the cost of power had gone down tremendously in the past one year. “The only challenge is that we have the cost of power going down but this does not directly translate to a reduction in the cost of goods and services.”
Mr Kamau asked manufacturers to reduce their prices. The chairman also assured Kenyans that as a committee they would always protect the interests of the public in regards to service delivery and accountability of public resources.
At the same time, Karachuonyo MP James Rege warned the public to steer clear of imposters claiming to be Kenya Power staff.
“Ensure that anyone who comes to you is a genuine employee of Kenya Power; recently there have been people claiming to be ‘repairing’ transformers,” Mr Rege said.
