MPs unlock Sh600m to restore power supply in Northern Kenya

PS Treasury Chris Kiptoo (from left) Energy PS Alex Wachira ,KPLC MD Joseph Siror and Rural Electrification & Renewable Energy Corporation CEO Dr Rose Mkalama before the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs & Energy Chaired by David Pkosing during Energy Sector Round-Table Meeting on long outstanding accounts receivables owed to Kenya Power & Lighting (KPLC). August 12th,2025 [Elvis Ogina, Standard] The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has unlocked Sh600 million to restore electricity in parts of the country, particularly Northern Kenya. The monies will assist Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) and Kenya Power restore power, even as the government promised additional funds to address power crisis in the region. The committee, led by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, had sought an explanation from Ministries of Energy and National Treasury over the financial statements that reflected outstanding receivables from government amounting to Sh30 billion as at June 2023 relating to management of the Rural Electrification Scheme (RES). It also emerged that Kenya Power operates 56 mini-grid generation stations of which 30 are hybrid - solar and diesel, with the remainder being solar mini grids. However, the hybrid generation stations are not functioning optimally due to non-functional lithium batteries and inadequate fuel shortage infrastructure resulting in frequent load shedding and unreliable power supply to rural areas. The committee raised concerns over persistent load shedding, which undermine sustainable energy solutions, especially through renewable energy and rural electrification, as National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo and his Energy counterpart Alex Wachira appeared before the committee yesterday. "This is the concern PSs, particularly National Treasury and let's go through together so that all of us are on the same page. National Treasury said REREC and KPLC need to replace non-functional lithium batteries and hybridise the mini-grids, which require Sh5.2 billion," said Pkosing. The PS further explained how this Sh5.2 billion is going to be realised. He said Sh1.4 billion will be from 5 per cent levy, Sh1 billion from reallocation, Sh600 million from additional exchequer and then it leaves a balance of Sh2.2 billion. Pkosing also said: "The PS said out of this Sh2.2 billion, he is going to factor in the financial year 2026/2027. What has come before this committee as fundamental, is non-functional of 13 mini-grids. Hybridisation looks like a medium-term target. The emergency is making Kenyans get power...the 13 grids, and that's why we are here and that only requires Sh600 million, which is already available, it is not from reallocation." Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said the committee is opposed to reallocation and sought availability of funds so that projects can start benefitting Kenyans. "Let's look for other funds and when they will be available so that you (KPLC) can carry out emergencies and avoid causing another emergency. We need to know your assets. How dilapidated it is and the rate of wearing off so that we can be able to even predict whether you can maintain the infrastructure you already have," Kiunjuri said. They made the remarks after PS Wachira told the committee that 13 mini-grids were in critical condition and require urgent repairs, which will cost about Sh600 million, while another 10 require complete replacement at a cost of Sh1.3 billion. "The biggest challenge of the partial supply and those off-supply is defective batteries. They require battery replacement and fuel storage tanks for the back diesel generators," Wachira said. To improve on power supply from mini-grid generation stations both on the diesel and hybrid stations, Wachira said the department has proposed hybridization of the diesel generation engines, upgrade of mini-grids where the demand outstripped the power supply and replacement of faulty batteries. According to Wachira, hybridisation of diesel stations for 20 diesel stations requires Sh4 billion while the total cost of replacing faulty batteries and upgrade the hybrid status is Sh1.3 billion. igithinji@standardmedia.co.ke

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