The business community in Amonyo trading center in Ndhiwa constituency are counting losses following prolonged power outages.
Most affected are those whose businesses are dependent on electricity, who lamented that they have run into losses worth millions of shillings resulting from the now four-month long power outage.
The traders held demonstrations on Wednesday to protest the issue and asked Kenya power to provide them with reliable power supply.
They also called on the government to intervene fearing that if nothing is done immediately, they will be forced to close down the business.
“We want electricity! we are also tax payers in Kenya!” they chanted during the demonstration.
Addressing journalists after the demonstration, the traders expressed concerns that the outage had taken that long without a solution being provided by the concerned authorities.
Bernard Odingo, a businessman who sells various items that need refrigeration said his goods had gone bad due to the outage.
“I used to sell assorted goods which depend on electricity. First, I suffered when my goods went bad. Today, I cannot even restock because there is still no electricity,” Odingo said.
Maurice Ogalo, a welder in the area complained that his welding businesses had collapsed.
“As businessmen who rely on power supply, we have been out of business for the last four months” Ogalo said.
Mercy Jowi, who runs a salon expressed concerns that many salons and barber shops had also been shut due to the problem.
“Our businesses depend on electricity and we cannot operate them due to the power outage,” Jowi said.
They expressed concerns that their efforts to engage Kenya Power had not helped the situation.
They appealed to Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to intervene and rescue them.
“We are appealing to CS Wandayi to come to our aid. We are also tax payers in this country,” Jowi said.
She said the losses were a serious setback to economic growth in Kenya. The millions we are losing here is significant in the national economy. Let the government intervene and restore electricity,” Jowi added.
They expressed concerns that the prolonged blackout had also resulted in insecurity in the area.
“Cases of theft are increasing here because of the blackout,” Ogalo added.
By Davis Langat
