The Electricity Sector Association of Kenya (ESAK) has urged President William Ruto to consider ways of diversifying investment in the energy sector in a bid to tame the spiking electricity costs.
In a statement on Monday, September 19, ESAK chairperson George Aluru noted that the country had the potential of tapping into diverse energy sectors as it is blessed with natural resources such as wind, supply of rainfall and solar energy.
ESAK comprises electricity stakeholders whose purpose is to encourage the sustainable development of the Kenyan electricity sector through collaboration, advocacy and data-driven solutions.
Aluru affirmed that large parts of the new administration could utilise the wind speeds experienced across the country which is estimated at an average speed of 6 metres per second.
“One of the reasons why investment in the energy sector is viable in Kenya is due to the immense potential in the sector. Kenya is abundantly blessed with natural resources such as wind, abundant supply of rainfall and solar energy. 73 per cent of the country experiences wind speeds of at least 6 m/s or higher,” Aluru stated.
The chair noted that the country could also tap into the solar energy sector with the Garissa Solar Power Plant being the largest grid-connected solar plant in East and Central Africa.
Further, the country's policies advocated in the Energy Act of 2019 encouraged private companies to invest in the electricity sector.
ESAK also acknowledged the Kenya National Electrification Strategy (KNES) which aims at introducing strategies to enable all Kenyans to access electricity in their homes.
"These policies are proof that from a policy-wise the energy sector is accommodative to further investments in the sector."
Aluru affirmed that the new administration was presented with an opportunity to iron out the issues among the stakeholders in the energy sector including Kenya Power, Ministry of Energy, Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority, Kengen, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) among others.
ESAK highlighted that electricity demand is set to grow as indicated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) which projected a 2.4 percent growth in 2022.
Recently, the country experienced a jump in electricity costs after the latest review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Kenya Power and Lightning Company (KPLC) attributed the increment to inflation rates and a rise in fuel prices.
"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," Kenya Power stated.
Initially, electricity prices had been adjusted following a directive by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta who had ordered a 30 percent decrease to lower the electricity prices.
