Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir (centre) and Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer Ben Chumo (right) during the Boresha Umeme project launch. [PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

Kakamega; Kenya: Kenya Power (KP) has launched a Sh96 million project to end power outages in the county.

Called ‘Boresha Umeme Kakamega’, the project is aimed at improving the quality of power supply in the county. The county has been experiencing black-outs for a long time now, causing the business community and Government offices to make losses.

The company is currently servicing equipment and network that serves residents; replacing wooden poles with concrete ones and also installing new transformers. KP Managing Director Ben Chumo said the company was committed to ending the power shortage.

“We have had challenges with power supply in this county. We are committed to ending these challenges by ensuring the county gets continuous power supply,” Dr Chumo said.

He attributed the constant power failures to adverse weather characterised by lightning, thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area.

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Speaking to journalists in Kakamega town after visiting Deputy Governor Philip Kutima, Chumo noted that Kenya Power had 35,000 customers in the county who pump in more than Sh50 million per month in electricity bills.

more customers

“We get over Sh50 million in electricity revenue every month from our more than 35,000 customers. We are targeting more customers in the county through this project,” he said.

Prof Kutima urged the power company to develop an electricity master plan for the county to ensure it had an independent power supply stationrather than rely on other stations outside the county.

He said the county was the least connected to the national power grid, getting just about 4 per cent of the total power supply in the country yet it also produces power.

“Kenya Power should develop a master plan that will enable us have an independent power line. Mumias Sugar Company produces power to the national grid so the county should be given priority,” said Kutima.

He revealed that the county was willing to partner with Kenya Power so residents could get subsidised power supply.

“The county government will partner with residents who have Sh10,000 to connect power to their homesteads by paying the remaining Sh15,000 as a way of encouraging residents to have power in their homes,” he said.

Mumias Sugar Company contributes about 26 megawatts to the national grid.