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Kenya Power, the national
utility of the African nation,
has signed contracts worth
Sh1.13 billion (around Rs.75 crore)
in the power distribution sector.
Placed on entities like KEC
International and Siemens, among
others, these contracts aim at
installing substations in satellite
areas of Nairobi, Western Kenya and
Mount Kenya.
Kenya aspires to provide
electricity to 40 per cent of its
population by 2020, and has
targeted to increase this metric to
50 per cent by 2030.
KEC International will design
and construct various substations
and transformers in Nairobi's
outpost areas, Nyanza, Rift Valley
and Western provinces. Siemens has
the mandate for similar works in
Gatundu, Juja, Kangema, Tala and
Mwea.
Vandalism is rife and accounts for
for 43 per cent of the losses in
Kenya’s power sector. Acts of
vandalising distribution transformers
for their oil and copper is a
common occurrence in Kenya. With
this in mind, the Kenyan
government had once strongly
recommended the mandatory use of
dry-type transformers. However,
this step has not yet been enforced,
an industry source said. Kenya
Power has petitioned the
government to classify vandalism
as "economic sabotage," implying
that perpetrators of crime could
attract severe punishment
including life imprisonment.
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