CEO Roka Industries Njoroge Kahugi (right) has a word with businessman Victor Maina, owner of Maathai Supermarkets, during the open day for customers of Kenya Cables products in Naivasha. Experts in the field are crying foul over the importation of low quality cables from the East. [PHOTO: ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD]

Manufacturers of electricity cables and experts in the sector have raised an alert over influx of fake and low quality electricity cables.

They are warning this could lead to factory and home accidents if the trend is not checked and the fake imports blocked.

This emerged during an open day for the multi-million shilling ROKA Industries, based in Naivasha which manufactures Kenya Cables.

"The biggest challenge facing this sector is influx of cheap products from the East whose quality is wanting," said Chief Executive Officer Njoroge Kahugi.

Mr Kahugi asked the Government to stem import of low quality cables, which have flooded the market saying the consequences of using them could be dire since some are not strong enough to fully supply electricity.

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His sentiments were echoed by the firm's Managing Director Joan Wanjiku who warned consumers against taking chances with electrical gadgets.

"Kenya has some of the best locally manufactured electric products and there is no need to take chances with sensitive materials like power cables," she said.

A senior engineer with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Peter Chege, said the country's current power demand is 1,500mw against a supply of 1,900mw.

He asked Kenyans to use more power and set-up industries since "there is ample supply of electricity".