Kenya Power on Wednesday, May 24, announced plans to tackle rampant power outages using Ksh10 billion.
In a statement, the utility firm indicated that the money would also be used to construct new substations and power lines to bolster its distribution capacity.
Speaking during the launch of BasiGo's first electric bus charging station, Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror indicated that the funds would help KPLC strengthen the electricity distribution network and improve reliability.
The project is touted to help KPLC address increased cases of power blackouts in the country, which had negatively affected the economy.
Explaining the expansion programme, Siror added the investment was driven by increased demand, especially in the e-mobility and clean cooking sector.
"In the last two years, the country has witnessed unprecedented interest from local and international stakeholders looking to invest and develop Kenya’s e-mobility sector. To adequately support e-mobility and other sectors of the economy, we will sustain investments to strengthen the grid and enhance network stability and flexibility for quality and reliable service," he stated.
Detailing the increased demand, the utility company indicated that its customer base had hit 9 million from 2.7 million in the last 10 years.
Siror also told stakeholders that the uptake of electric vehicles had gained momentum, with 1,000 cars operating nationwide.
"Today, our grid is robust to support electric vehicle charging, with a recent study indicating that Nairobi’s current power infrastructure is strong enough to support the switch to electric for 100 per cent of the two-wheeler vehicles in the city, and 10 per cent for other vehicles including private and commercial fleet. We want to improve this further through strategic investments that will enhance the flexibility of the network to support this growing industry," he stated.
"As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, Kenya Power will continue to prioritise generation from renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, wind, biomass and geothermal as guided by the Least Cost Power Development Plan," he added.
The order came days after KPLC pumped Ksh27 billion towards implementing phase four of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme (LMCP), launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration in 2015.
In a statement, the listed firm noted that the project would target over 280,473 households in 32 counties. According to Kenya Power, the project would commence on November 2023.
"It will be fully funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
"The project was initiated in 2015 with the aim of providing affordable connection in rural and peri-urban areas and accelerating universal electricity access to drive social economic growth in line with the country’s 2030 development agenda," read the statement in part.
