Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee Opiyo Wandayi has explained how he will solve the issues of power blackouts in the country.

Speaking on Saturday, August 3, 2024, when he appeared before the Moses Wetang’ula-led Parliamentary Committee on Appointments for vetting, Wandayi said the Western Kenya region is the most affected when it comes to electricity power outages, noting that it will be his priority if he gets approved to assume office.

The former National Assembly Minority Leader stated that he would first have the electricity transmission line to various parts affected with blackouts, relooked.

Wandayi noted that transmission lines with the requisite capacity to evacuate power to the consumers will be put in place.

“I will fast track the development of transmission lines with the requisite capacity to evacuate power and take to the consumers,” he stated.

Wandayi went ahead to point out that should he get approved to assume office as the Energy and Petroleum CS, he will ensure the Turkwel-Ortum-Kitale power line is completed and commissioned.

“In Western Kenya, I will ensure that the Turkwel -Ortum- Kitale line is completed and commissioned in the shortest time possible,” Wandayi stated while responding to a question raised by Pokot South Member of Parliament (MP) David Pkosing.

Wandayi further noted that all the power lines that have not been completed have funding that has been offered by Kenya’s development partners, which will make it easy to fast-track.

While responding to Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed’s question on how he will help areas that have no access to electricity, Wandayi said his ministry will work with Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) and Kenya Power fast track modernisation of infrastructure in such areas.

“We have situations where we are not able to evacuate power from the generators to the end user because of lack of transmission capacity. We shall work closely with REREC and Kenya Power to fast-track the modernization of the infrastructure,” Wandayi said.

The Ugunja MP also promised to deal with the cartels, whom he said have not been allowing the tendering process to proceed to a conclusion.

“Cartels have become so pervasive that they can’t allow a tendering process to proceed to conclusion and awards be made without creating roadblocks. We shall deal with this menace,” Wandayi said.

Wandayi also promised to address the issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) who have licenses but have failed to utilize their sites, thus starving KenGen with excess capacity to generate more power.