Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira on Friday, January 13, announced that the cost of electricity will drop in March after actualizing the deal to import power from Ethiopia.
During a tour of Suswa Substation on Friday, the PS noted that Kenya had already received the first 75 megawatts from Ethiopia.
Wachira added that his ministry was working to expedite the construction of two power substations where the imported power will be directed to.
"We do not want to take power from Ethiopia and have it sit around here idle, that is why we are fast-tracking the Kimuka Substation and the Mariakani Substation," Wachira stated.
According to the PS, the hydroelectric power imported from Ethiopia was relatively cheaper compared to the geothermal power which forms a significant part of Kenya's source of energy.
His statement was corroborated by Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Muli who noted that Kenyans should expect a change in their electricity bills once the projects are complete.
"With the reduced thermal generation and bringing in Ethiopian power which is cheap, we are certain that the bills will reflect the lower cost of power that we are bringing from Ethiopia.
The two substations in Mariakani and Kimuka will be used to distribute power in the coastal region and other parts of Kenya.
The electricity deal was part of the agreements reached between President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during the former's state visit in October 2022.
Kenyans were staring at the possibility of an increment in the prices of electricity after the government withdrew subsidies in December 2022.
However, the President dispelled reports of increments - stating that the government had put measures in place to ensure the cost of electricity is cost-friendly.
"There will be no additional charges today or going into the future on electricity bills," Ruto stated on new year's eve.
