Kenya Power and Lightning Company (KPLC) has attributed the rise in the cost of buying tokens to inflation and adjustment of fuel costs in the country.
Through a statement dated Friday, September 16, the utility firm noted that token prices are adjusted monthly by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
"The regulator has adjusted the fuel cost and inflation components of the bill, hence the increase in the token price. This is done monthly by EPRA," their statement read in part.
The increase has seen Kenyans pay more to acquire tokens in the country.
A section of customers noted that the tokens units they usually purchased had decreased.
The move comes after Kenya Power started implementing a 21 per cent hike in power charges in accordance with the changes gazetted by EPRA.
With the adjustments, the fuel cost charge increased from Ksh4.63 per unit of power to Ksh6.80.
The review by EPRA also saw the foreign exchange adjustment hit Ksh1.37 from 73 cents for the same amount of electricity purchased.
On Wednesday, September 14, EPRA announced new fuel prices. According to the latest review, the price of Super Petrol increased by Ksh20 to a record high Ksh179.30 per litre, Diesel increased by Ksh25 to Ksh165, while Kerosene increased by Ksh20 to Ksh147.94 in Nairobi.
“Taking into account the weighted average cost of imported refined petroleum products and in line with government policy to progressively remove subsidy on petroleum fuels, the changes in the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices in Nairobi are as follows: Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene increase by Ksh 20.18 per litre, Ksh 25 per litre and Ksh 20 per litre respectively,” EPRA's statement read in part.
The increase came after President William Ruto stated that fuel subsidy was unsustainable. During his inaugural speech, the head of state noted that the country had spent a total of Ksh144 billion on the fuel subsidy program.
However according to EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo, the government is planning to diversify investment into renewal energy to cushion Kenyans from high cost of fuel and electricity.
He pointed out on plans to leverage on on geothermal energy to cushion Kenyans from inflation pressure.
