Energy and Petroleum principal secretary (PS) Alex Wachira has assured Kenyans that there will be no power rationing in the country.
Speaking during Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, the Energy PS stated that the country is generating enough power to serve all Kenyans and their businesses due to the ongoing heavy rains in the country.
“I want to tell Kenyans that we are not in power rationing mode, and like what has been reported the issue is around South Nyanza and South Rift where we have a constrained power line,” stated Wachira.
He added that the Ministry was working to ensure a lasting solution, before they embark on constructing the Narok – Bomet power line.
READ ALSO: Energy CS Chirchir reveals cause of frequent power outages
“We don’t want to have a national blackout, like what we had recently due to overloading.
“We have enough power in the country, what we are lacking is the delivery system to that region, in South Nyanza and South Rift regions,” said the Energy PS.
He associated the countrywide blackout that occurred on Sunday night of December 10, 2023 to overloading of the power line in the South Rift region.
Meanwhile, Energy cabinet secretary Davis Chirchir had on December 11 noted that the countrywide blackout was caused by overloading the powerline.
READ ALSO: “CS Murkomen must apologise for lying to Kenyans” – Senator Cherargei after yet another JKIA blackout
Chirchir had explained that the power outages were caused by overloading the power line due to lack of an update on the network system.
The Energy CS added that the Ministry has not updated the power network system due to financial constraints.
“We know where the problem is but we lack investment in the network overtime, this is what is hitting us.
“We’ve pushed last mile connectivity and we haven’t built the network and now we have overloads,” said Chirchir.
On the other hand, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen had alleged that the countrywide blackout was as a result of sabotage, calling on the police to investigate the matter.
“No! It’s sabotage! The Inspector General must commence immediate investigations,” stated Murkomen.
READ ALSO: Senator Cherargei: CS Murkomen called me a fool
Murkomen made the remarks after the blackout affected activities at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), after generators failed again during the time of the blackout.
As a result, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei called for the immediate resignation of CS Murkomen over failures at the JKIA during blackouts.
