The chairman of the National Assembly public accounts committee, Opiyo Wandayi has called on the government to urgently address challenges affecting the energy sector before they bring down the entire economy.
Wandayi lamented that though all facets of the country’s economy rely on electricity, the sector was nearly on its knees with several parts of the country not assured of steady supply.
Addressing the media in Siaya town Thursday, Wandayi who is also the Ugunja Member of parliament called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to sack Energy Cabinet secretary for failure to ensure that Kenyans have steady and affordable electricity supply despite the country investing billions of shillings in the sector.
“As we speak, across the entire width and breadth of this country, we have transformers which have blown off and have not been replaced for more than eight months” said the legislator adding; “cases where transformers have been taken to the villages and yet not working are numerous.”
He said that rural economies that are driven by the informal sector businesses such as barber shops, salons and welding activities are virtually closing down due to lack of power.
Wandayi said for the government to sort out the mess in the energy sector that is threatening the survival of the Kenya Power, the faces behind the near death of the once thriving parastatal must be exposed. “But before the exposure is done, let the president show Kenyans that he is serious about tackling this issue by sacking the CS for energy,” he said.
The PAC chair said parliamentarians were ready to take up an unspecified action should the president fail to intervene and bring back sanity in the energy sector.
He said the country should learn from neighbouring countries the magic that they have been applying to ensure steady and affordable electricity for their citizens. “What is the magic that our neighbours are applying to be able to provide steady and affordable electricity to their citizens?” he posed.
By Philip Onyango
