Security officers have been urged to step up efforts in tackling electricity vandals, particularly those targeting critical infrastructure like power transformers.
Energy Principal Secretary Mr. Alex Wachira has said that electricity vandals were on the rise thereby causing economic sabotage in the country disrupting services and endangering communities and hence called on security to put efforts in tackling the vice.
He spoke at Kandutura village in Laikipia North Constituency where he commissioned a rural electrification project under the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy (REREC) where he was accompanied by PS for wildlife Sylvia Museiya, area Member of Parliament Sarah Korere and Lamu county woman representative Monica Muthoni.
“We are asking the security team to ensure they crack down the vandals that are sabotaging the work of the government. Those are economic saboteurs that are derailing our development agenda as a country,” said PS Wachira.
The PS at the same time announced that the government was considering resuming the a project meant to develop and maintain high voltage power transmission lines and substances but stalled after the government cancelled the deal between Adani Energy Solutions and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) that was to cost $736.6 million, aimed to improve Kenya’s electricity supply reliability and address power outages.
The PS noted that the government intended to generate geothermal power from the Menengai area in Nakuru County and establish Substations in Ol-Kalou area in Nyandarua County and Rumuruti in Laikipia County to help ease power supplies in the region.
However, he said the government would be re-initiating the project through a Public-Private-Partnership to ensure its success.
By Antony Mwangi
