- On Friday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka raised objections to the recent 16 per cent increase in electricity prices.
- Kenyans are now paying as much as 16.5 per cent more for electricity.
Image: FILE
Outspoken Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has decried the surge in the country's power costs saying they are taking a toll on Kenyans.
The MP, who is allied to the Kenya Kwanza government, said the hike in the prices of electricity may force Kenyans to close down businesses.
"Uuuh Kenya power! kenya powerrrrrrrr we Can’t breathe! 500 Sh gives me 14 units down from 21 units last year surely! Tutafunga hizi biashara jameni,'' she wrote on her official X account.
Kenyans are now paying as much as 16.5 per cent more for electricity after the energy regulator raised fuel and foreign exchange charges.
In its latest review, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) raised the energy charges by 8.7 per cent to Sh4.33 per unit from Sh3.98 in December.
Epra also increased the Foreign Exchange rate fluctuation adjustment (Ferfa) charge by 103.7 per cent to a new record high of Sh6.46 per unit up from Sh3.17 set last month.
The move has seen a surge in the cost of electricity with households receiving fewer units when they purchase power.
This has been attributed to the depreciating Dollar against the Kenya Shilling.
On Friday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka raised objections to the recent 16 per cent increase in electricity prices.
Kalonzo said President William Ruto’s government has been failing Kenyans by continually raising taxes, making life difficult for Kenyans.
He further noted that these price hikes had led to an escalation in the cost of living, leaving Kenyans feeling “tired, hungry, and angry.”
“The 16 per cent increase in tokens by @KenyaPower is the latest unacceptable burden on tired, hungry, and angry Kenyans. This is a clear example of the government’s inability to address the rising cost of living,” he declared.
“They may want to plunge us into darkness, but I want to remind them that there is light in the darkness,” he added on his X platform.
A new report by the Senate Energy Committee has blamed high costs on massive theft, system losses, skewed electricity deals by Kenya Power and delayed completion of crucial transmission lines.
The Energy Committee chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga has directed Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to conduct a special audit on Kenya Power’s finances, systems and billing systems.
The firm, the country’s sole electricity distributor, has been incurring unusually high losses and grappling with huge debts running into billions of shillings.
Consequently, the firm has attracted several lawsuits, some restricting procurement, thus degrading its operations.