Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has told Kenyans to prepare themselves for a possible increase in the cost of electricity in the coming weeks.
While speaking during a joint with Kenya’s TV stations on Sunday, March 12, DP Gachagua attributed the possible increase to the prolonged drought the country has been facing for the past few years. He said that the drought has reduced the hydropower production capacity significantly.
“We are having a problem because of the prolonged drought. We will have a very serious shortage in another two to three weeks,” DP Gachagua said.
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He also added that the possible increase is also attributed to the fact that the cost of operation has increased.
According to DP Gachagua, the government has plans to revive the other alternative solar, wind, and geothermal sources of power since the private producers of power are costly.
This move, he says will help cushion Kenyans from the expensive cost of power.
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“The government is looking at alternative sources of power like geothermal and solar energy. We will make a policy pronouncement in the next week on that aspect of what the government is doing to bring the cost of power down,” Gachagua added.
In the joint interview, DP Gachagua also addressed concerns about the current cost of living as well as plans to hold discussions with the opposition coalition, Azimio La Umoja- one Kenya alliance.
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