By Victor Kenani
The news is from NAIJ.
The image is from the AFP.
The #KPLC has been a hot topic on social media this week as people share their stories about the country's worst national power cut in years.
Some tried to find some light-hearted moments in the dark, while others were angry at the inefficiency of the state-run lighting company.
It was the third nationwide power failure in the past four years and raised questions about KPLC's ability to provide a stable power supply.
The company said in a statement that four pylons supporting the power line collapsed. It said that the structures had been damaged.
The head of criminal investigations told journalists that they can't rule out anything, following concerns of sabotage following reforms at the energy ministry that were seen to have ruffled the feathers of bureaucrats.
Monica Juma and her assistant Gordon Kihalangwa were appointed to the ministry in a cabinet shuffle in September of 2021.
The image is from the AFP.
The image caption is.
Many people have had to use candles in the absence of electricity.
Mr Kihalangwa told the lawmakers that the heads would roll at the power company. Even if it is impossible for Kenya Power to sell electricity in the event of surplus supply, a producer gets paid for it.
The heads of various departments and corporations in the ministry have been forced to resign, with others opting for early retirement, according to the BBC. No one has been charged.
A presidential task force recommended that independent power producers cut their tariffs by half to match the prices of the power generating company. All power purchase agreements should be suspended.
Private investors have a 49.9% stake in the power company, so the reduction in the cost of power and review of power purchase agreements would mean less revenue.
There are a lot of grievances with KPLC, including constant outages, inflated electricity bills, and taking ages to connect potential clients. It has attracted names such as "Kenya Paraffin and Candles LIMITED".
The financial disclosures show that the company is reliant on debt to run operations. The International Development Agency, China Exim Bank, and Japan Development Bank are some of the institutions it has borrowed from. The loans are guaranteed by the state and therefore taxpayers have to pay in the event of a default.
A preliminary audit report shows that the company has about $65 million in dead stock, items such as power cables, meters and transformers that have been sitting in warehouses for more than five years without being used.
Critics have accused the company of behaving like a monopoly and limiting the distribution capacity of other players in the market.
Tuesday's power failure came at a time when the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority is seeking to force electricity companies to compensate consumers for financial losses, equipment damage, physical injuries and death due to power failures.
The power company does not pay for financial losses caused by power outages.
Many businesses reliant on electricity bore significant losses during Tuesday's outage.
Sellah Anyango, who operates a salon in Nairobi, told the BBC that she was frustrated.
I had customers leave as there was no power. The business was hit hard by the coronaviruses epidemic. Now this? How will we make ends meet with disruptions? Absolutely unacceptable.
The shift towards solar power systems by industries seeking cheaper and reliable power has rattled the power company. The company acknowledged that some of its industrial customers were moving to own-generated solar power.
The image is from the AFP.
The image caption is.
Many people in the country are using solar power.
Africa Logistics Properties, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, and the Mombasa International Airport have recently commissioned solar power units.
Several other companies, universities and factories have turned to solar photovoltaic grid-tied systems to supply power for internal use.
There was an increase in the use of solar power. About 20% of the total number of homes use solar for lighting.
The solar business is set to join the power business in the country. It said that it will scout for customers who want to have solar panels installed on their rooftops and then contract private firms to do the job.
The owners of the homes and office blocks that hosted the solar plants would get a discounted rate on the generated power.
As the country transitions to solar energy, it will be forced to adapt or it will be irrelevant and cast into the darkness.
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