The government is set to enhance Kenya Power Company (KPC) strategic role, aimed at providing reliable, adequate, and affordable energy to Kenyans to spur sustainable economic growth.
During an inaugural visit to Kenya Power for an induction tour and update on the status of electricity supply in the country at Juja Road Substation in Nairobi, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi engaged with KPC’s board, management, and staff, delving on the various challenges experienced by the institution.
The CS also discussed the legislative, policy, and operational interventions KPC has put in place to support and liaise with other government agencies and departments to enable it to address the challenges that resonate well with the aspirations and expectations of various stakeholders.
“The Board of Directors appraised me on the Company’s 5-year Strategic Plan complete with its current level of implementation, to appreciate the Company’s work and alignment of its strategies, policies, projects, and programmes in the support of various national, county, and sectoral strategies, policies, and programs,” stated Wandayi.
He observed that as the customer service agency in the sector value chain, expectations of the government and key stakeholders among them, its customers, put a high demand on KPC Board, management, and staff to ensure that its strategies, policies, processes, internal culture, and practices are ethical, effective, and customer responsive that are geared towards meeting and exceeding all key stakeholders’ expectations.
“The Government has reiterated its desire and commitment to reform strategic Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs), and in particular KPC, to transform it into an agile, technology adaptive, eco-friendly, ethical, and responsive customer-centric institution that plays a leading role in the country’s vision of transiting to total green energy by 2030,” added Wandayi.
Further, the CS commended the board and management team at KPLC for their commendable work, as he emphasised the need for further institutional reforms and urgently reporting back to the Ministry after covering key areas that include the key initiatives in the importance of operational efficiency.
He highlighted other initiatives, including a technical and commercial loss reduction strategy with timelines to reduce the current loss level from 24 per cent to a tariff setting allowable level of 19.5 per cent within a 3-year period, and Customer service improvement strategy incorporating the use of integrated customer management system at the national call center for customers’ complaints resolution.
Other areas include supply chain and logistic strategy that address perennial shortages of critical materials, a report on the technical, operational, and human activities of the national control centre in power infrastructure configuration, and the key initiatives in the improvement of operational efficiency.
Additionally, the CS stressed the importance of implementing a customer improvement strategy to enhance public engagement and urged the company to focus on supply chain and logistics strategies to meet the demand for critical equipment, such as poles and meters.
He called for efficient operations within KPC to reduce the cost of energy for consumers and directed the board to address human control issues identified in the technical report.
Further, the CS also urged them to close any operational gaps as he stressed the need for stronger collaboration with KETRACO to ensure efficient energy transmission.
Wandayi reiterated the government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal power connections and encouraged the public to follow proper procedures when seeking connections.
He pledged that the government will continue to support the Board by providing necessary guidance and policy support, invest in KETRACO and KENGEN, and expand transmission lines to improve the country’s power supply infrastructure.
In his remarks, Principal Secretary (PS) for Energy Alex Wachira disclosed that they are working on maintenance, which costs about Sh64 billion.
Also present was KPC Managing Director Dr. Joseph Siror, who said, “We are committed to supplying efficient power. We did embark to procure all the meters, which are in adequate supply since we have all the materials.”
By Sharon Atieno
