Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called upon County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Energy to come up with viable resolutions to reduce the cost of energy in the country.
Consequently, Mutula lamented that the cost of energy has affected farmers, hospitals, and businesspeople and also impacted negatively on the development of projects in most of the counties.
In this regard, he emphasized the need for the CECMs to deliberate and come up with resolutions to ensure the cost of energy is reduced to hasten development in the country.
“This issue of power is troubling Kenyans because the cost of energy has increased tremendously. So, the CECMs must come up with resolutions to cut down the cost of energy that we will table before the Council of Governors (COG) before it is taken to the Summit,” said Mutula during a Workshop on Climate Compatible Growth Conference, aimed at promoting peer-to-peer learning on the productive use of renewable energy and strengthening climate resilience at a hotel in Wote town on Tuesday.
“We must say with one voice that the cost of power has affected farmers, also our work in offices, and impacted negatively on the development of the counties. There is post-harvest loss for farmers; hospitals and business people are not spared due to lack of affordable power,” he added.
The conference, organised by the COG in partnership with UK PACT, brings together select CECMs and Directors in charge of Energy under the CECMs Caucus for a three-day learning mission in Makueni.
The Governor who opened the conference also noted prices for equipment required to put up solar systems were expensive and challenged the national government to reduce the prices to allow the use of renewable energy to hasten development.
“The cost of solar equipment coming into the country is very high. So, we must come up with a resolution from here and ask the national government to reduce this cost of the equipment,” Mutula observed.
The governor noted that it was paramount for all counties to have an energy plan that will enable them to drive the power agenda in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Mutula revealed that his government has embarked on constructing markets across the county whereby they will each be equipped with a cold storage room to allow those doing business to preserve their goods there.
Speaking at the same workshop, the CECMs Chairperson for the Caucus Rosemary Rop said so far only 22 counties have developed energy plans and emphasized the need for those that have yet to produce one to do so.
MS Rop, who is also CECM for Kericho County, disclosed that the plans will help in coming up with investments that will assist in identifying partners to invest in the energy sector in an effort to accelerate the development of the respective counties.
“The Energy plans in each county will help investors know where to invest. They will translate the plans into activities that can change the lives of our people,” said Rop.
Some of the CECMs present were from Makueni, Kilifi, Meru, Nyandarua, Homa Bay, Tana River, and Kisumu, Kiambu, Lamu and Nakuru, Kericho, and Bungoma, to mention a few.
By Patrick Nyakundi
