Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro on Wednesday, March 22 defended the cost of electricity despite rampant public outcry.
According to the MP, who also chairs the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly, when the electricity subsidy was removed, the increased cost did not fall on the consumer but on the suppliers.
In an interview with Inooro TV, the vocal lawmaker listed the suppliers as Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO).
"When the power subsidy was removed the burden went to the supplier, not Kenyans. The subsidies used to pay Kenya Power," he explained.
The MP emphasised that even with the subsidies' removal, the electricity cost (tariff) remained unaffected.
In addition, Nyoro explained that Kenya Power was mandated to pay the suppliers, KETRACO and KenGen adding that consumers are not charged for this.
"In the electricity bills Kenyans receive, they do not pay for KenGen and KETRACO, that is the role of Kenya Power," the MP emphasised.
On the other hand, he singled out Kenya Power from other government institutions adding that it does not dictate the cost of electricity.
Nyoro noted that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) sets the cost of electricity.
Meanwhile, in September 2022, the MP tripled his shares at Kenya Power emerging as the largest individual shareholder according to the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
Nyoro went from 9,116,800 shares at the end of June 2021 to 27,291,400 by June 2022. He was third, behind the government and bank-owned shares.
Notably, on March 14, Kenya Power dropped the breakdown of the token charges on the purchase messages as Kenyans continued to lament over expensive but few tokens.
Furthermore, Nyoro defended President William Ruto's plan to acquire cheaper fuel from Saudi Arabia and UAE. He stated it was an elaborate plan to lower the cost of living.
"Things are not as they should but we are working our way out. I will not blame those before us since we have the time to solve it," he stated.
