Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has called for comprehensive reforms in Kenya's power sector aimed at reducing electricity costs and stimulating economic growth.
Nyoro emphasized that addressing the high cost of electricity is crucial for attracting investment and generating employment opportunities. He proposed allowing more private electricity producers to sell power directly to the national grid, which would increase competition and reduce reliance on a limited number of suppliers.
Key Proposals
- Grant commercial power producers access to the national grid to sell electricity.
- Encourage private investment in the energy sector to expand generation capacity.
- Unlock the value of state-owned assets, such as Kenya Power, to raise capital for energy projects.
Nyoro highlighted Kenya Power's estimated value of approximately Sh75 billion and suggested leveraging such assets to finance additional electricity production. He argued that increasing energy supply would lead to more affordable and reliable power for consumers.
Linking the reforms to job creation, Nyoro stressed the importance of economic growth translating into employment, especially for young Kenyans. He also identified tourism as a sector with significant potential to generate millions of jobs by targeting 10 million international visitors through enhanced marketing and infrastructure development.
Additionally, Nyoro called for policies to strengthen local banks, enabling them to compete with foreign investors and retain profitability within Kenya.
