New energy CS Charles Keter Warns contractors

Newly appointed Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has now put on notice contractors who are yet to begin their jobs in the energy sector.

When Keter officially took office from Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on Tuesday, he warned that such contractors risk losing out on contracts.

Rotich had been in charge of the ministry in an acting capacity since President Uhuru Kenyatta sent home Davis Chirchir, alongside three other CSs, in March.

Keter said the government is on course to ensure that it attains the of target of reaching 5000 megawatts of power by 2018, thus he wanted all contractors to expedite the energy projects allocated to them.

Kenya is seeking to increase its power generation capacity using renewable energy sources mainly from geothermal, solar and wind sources as it reduces reliance on hydro-power production.

Keter was among the seven Cabinet Secretaries officially appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday after they were approved by Parliament on Thursday.

During the officiating ceremony, President Kenyatta urged the CSs and the PSs to ensure prosperity of all Kenyans.

“We must uproot corruption, we will run a clean government,” said President Kenyatta.

“You will be responsible for what happens in your departments, there is no excuse,” President Kenyatta warned the new appointees.

Keter made it to the Cabinet after the Head of State nominated him as the CS for Energy to take over from Davis Chirchir who was suspended eight months ago over corruption allegations.

On Jamhuri day, President Kenyatta highlighted the 22% increase in energy connections since he took office, terming the fastest increase in the world.

“In the past three years, my Administration has raised the connection rate from 28 percent to above 50 percent.  I dare say it is one of the fastest increases in energy connection in the world,” said Kenyatta.

The President announced that plans were underway to connect all primary schools to the electric grid before the next term; a move that he says will allow children to study for longer hours.

Currently, only 40 per cent of Kenyans are connected to electricity.

President Kenyatta, in early 2015, launched the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.

It is expected to be the largest such project Africa, generating 310 megawatts of electricity which is 14 per cent of the Kenya’s current generation capacity.