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Members of Parliament (MPs) will today vote on a motion to bring down the cost of electricity.

The lawmakers will also vote on a proposal to ban Kenya Power from entering into new contracts with any Independent Power Producers (IPPs) until the National Assembly makes a resolution on the same.

MPs maintain that there is need to regulate all IPPs in the country and publicize their locations, stakeholders, directors, management and their addresses and agreements entered into with Kenya Power;

The vote will also pave the way for the Departmental Committee on Energy to undertake an inquiry into the operations of Kenya Power in relation to agreements entered into with IPPs, factors affecting the cost of electricity, including over-reliance on IPPs against available renewable and other energy sources, and come up measures within one hundred and twenty (120) days.

While supporting the motion sponsored by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri yesterday, the MPs raised concerns over the high cost of energy and demanded that the government reviews the operational costs brought about by the various parastatals that the ministry of energy has entered into.

Kagiri argues that there is need to put in place policies, strategies and regulatory measures for better planning to moderate the cost of electricity and enable access to energy by all particularly in the manufacturing sector to ease the cost of production and doing business.

“The Ministry and Kenya Power develop suitable strategies for engagements with the IPPs, in order to provide relief for electricity consumers and ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the energy sector,” she said

Buuri MP Mugambi Rindiki (pictured) regretted that the cost of electricity has continued to be high due to various agreements entered into by Kenya power.

“Time has come when the government needs to relook at these agreements that were entered into a long time ago. The cost of electricity is high because of operational expenses incurred by more than five corporations that have signed agreements with. It is true all of us receive electricity bills every month as industrial or individual consumers. In that bill we have itemised items which customers are charged, one of those is the cost of diesel which is high because of the many agreements Kenya has entered into. It is high time that the Kenya government relooks at the viability of all these institutions.”

Endebess MP Robert Pukose said the cost of electricity has been on the rise which has in turn led to the high cost of living.

“THE cost of electricity has been on the rise. Right now if you buy tokens look at the tokens you have been given compared to the ones you bought last month using the same cost, they are different. This has been necessitated by us containing unfair agreements which must come to an end,” he said.

Langat Felix Odiwuor claimed that illegal connections in his constituency are a result of high cost electricity.

He also took the opportunity to ask Kenya Power to return three transformers which were taken from his constituency due to the illegal connections.

“In Langata we have several slums, these people cannot afford electricity which has led to illegal connections which have contributed to the 15 fire incidents,” he said.

Karachuonyo MP Okuome Odipo said that the high cost of living currently facing the country is partly because of the high cost of electricity.

“Because of this high cost of business and production, in particular manufacturing, a number of business people have migrated from Kenya and have gone to other countries. It is important that all efforts be used to lower the cost of electricity,” he said.

Homabay Woman Representative Joyce Bensuda told the government to move with speed and lower the cost of energy which has continued to be a burden to Kenyans.

“This is quite urgent, clear and needs to be looked at as soon as possible. I am asking the energy committee to call upon these institutions so that they can tell us what we are doing. The management of Kenya should style up. Water is life and so energy is life,” she said.

 “Deputy Leader of Majority and Kilifi MP Owen Baya told Kagiri to immediately table a petition seeking to have this issue of cost of electricity dealt with.

“We must have a paradigm shift in the management of power in the country and this motion is timely. The moment we reduce the cost of buying power from IPPS this is the time the cost of power will come down.