By Leonard Acharry

BUSIA, KENYA: After consistent outcry from members of the public concerning frequent blackouts in Busia town, Kenya Power company has come forward to respond to the complains.

The company’s Busia branch Managing Director Daniel Tido has acknowledged existence of the problem but said they are working on the problem.

In his submission, Tido said Busia town and county at large has been on receiving end because it is the last point of power supply from Kakamega, “We receive power from Kakamega station, and Kakamega receive from Lesos near Eldoret, so anything that happens on that line between Kakamega and Busia, it’s the Busia people who suffer most”

The manager revealed that better things are on the way coming as they are finalizing on connecting the new line to Rang’ala power station in Siaya, “Currently there are frequent blackouts because the contractor at Rang’ala is finalizing the connection and by next Monday the station will start serving Busia, Bondo and Siaya… that will reduce power outages,” explained the manager

He also revealed plans to have a sole power supply station for Busia County only which he said will be built at Amukura in Teso south although he didn’t reveal when the project will start.

In the mean time, Mr Tido decried increased vandalism of electricity gadgets in the county where seven transformers and wires worth seven million shillings have been vandalized in the last three months.

He said this has greatly contributed to blackouts and caused a big loss to the company, “This has made us to start sensitizing locals to be vigilant and on look to people who vandalize the power gadgets…. we started in Funyula where we met locals and chiefs, next we shall go to Nambale and Butula”

Apart from the meetings, the manager said they will install live wires on the transformers to cub the menace.

Tido also called on their customers who owe them money to pay to ease their operations, “Our customers owe us a debt of over ten million for the last twelve months which we request them to pay so that we serve them even better”

Busia residents have been complaining of frequent power blackouts which have made them incur losses running to millions of shillings after their electronics were blown off due to power surge.

Business community has also not been left out as most of them have been closed due to lack of stable power supply.