President William Ruto conceded that the national power blackouts that have frustrated Kenyans in recent months were not accidental. The Head of State who spoke Thursday during a public event said the outages were part of a deliberate strategy by the government to modernize and stabilize the country’s power grid.
Ruto said KPLC supported by the Ministry of Energy has been implementing intensive maintenance and system upgrade works geared toward long term stability in electricity supply. We know the blackouts have caused inconvenience but they are necessary as we transition into a more stable and efficient energy system said the President.
He said the exercise involves the replacement of old transmission lines connecting renewable energy sources and improving the safety of the grid especially in rural and industrial areas facing frequent surges and power interruptions. We are building a foundation that will make Kenya’s power supply dependable for industries schools and homes Ruto assured.
However the admission sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans as some praised the transparency and long term vision while others lamented poor communication by the government and a lack of clear scheduling for the planned outages. Many argued that the blackouts disrupted businesses and damaged electronic appliances besides affecting hospital operations.
Energy experts want the government to publish a countrywide maintenance plan and issue timely warnings to consumers ahead of scheduled disruptions. But Ruto remained adamant that the short term pain will lead to long term gain and insisted reforms will make Kenya’s energy sector more competitive and sustainable in the coming years
By Nairobi