NAIROBI: Kenya Power has announced it will carry out a major facelift and upgrade on its installations countrywide in efforts to increase connectivity and utilisation of power by enterprises and individuals.
Under a programme dubbed Operation Boresha Stima, the utility firm is looking to improve connectivity by supplying power to more regions, and upgrading its systems to minimise power blackouts. The firm’s managing director, Ben Chumo, launched a new phase of the programme in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, over the weekend and said the system upgrade would cost Sh13.5 billion.
He added that Kenya Power has been key in driving economic prosperity in the county by providing power to run machinery, and is committed to improving its services. Dr Chumo said the new phase would include carrying out repairs at existing sub-stations and upgrading power lines to enhance durability.
“This is one of the key projects that the company is undertaking to give Kenyans better services, and we are calling on our esteemed customers to bear with power interruptions as we upgrade our systems.” Chumo added that the power distributor would create four more channels in the semi-arid
West Pokot County to increase electricity supply and provide better power connections to minimise outages. West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin welcomed the move, terming it key to ensuring the growth of the region economically, and asked residents to embrace the initiative. He also noted that improved connectivity would help lure investors to the region.
“We are happy with this great move by Kenya Power to improve electricity supply in this region as it will boost the livelihoods of our people who have suffered setbacks due to a lack of reliable power to run their businesses,” Mr Kachapin said. The county boss added that his administration would partner with the power company to put up streetlights in Kapenguria township to increase business hours.
Area residents and the business community, who have complained about the frequency of power outages in the region several times, welcomed news that at least Sh202 million of the total allocation for the system upgrade would be set aside for the county.
