Editorials

EDITORIAL: Don’t dump bill for delayed power project on consumers

keter

Energy secretary Charles Keter. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The Treasury’s disclosure that electricity consumers now risk paying a higher Sh13.9 billion in penalties for the delayed completion of a power line linking the Lake Turkana Wind Power farm to the national grid is grossly upsetting and puzzling.

This sum is at least Sh1.9 billion higher than what the Energy ministry had stated would go into settling the fines. Spending such a colossal amount of money in avoidable penalties is immoral and insulting to consumers already strained by high cost of living.

It is therefore imperative that completion of the 428-kilometre power line from the northern town of Marsabit to Suswa substation in Narok, which has hampered electricity evacuation from the 310-megawatt wind farm, is expedited and given the attention it deserves.

The Treasury’s disclosure only a few days after Energy secretary Charles Keter said the power line linking the wind farm to the national grid was 70 per cent complete, with only high voltage cables remaining to be put up, only serves to add to the suspicion that some game is being played in this very serious matter of public finance.

If true, Mr Keter’s announcement means the remaining bit of work can be concluded within the deadline to save consumers the pain of settling needless bills.

Right from commencement of the project, the government was well aware of the implications of not honouring its end of the bargain and adequate measures should have been put in place to avoid breaching the contract terms.

READ: Consumers face Sh13.9bn a year fine for wind power delay

Projects of such magnitude are conventionally subject to detailed planning to cover for all time sensitive aspects. Unfortunately, those tasked with managing this particular project seem to have thrown caution to the wind and power consumers now face the pain of footing billions of shillings in penalties.

The cases of interruption by landowners’ compensation demands should have, for instance, been handled expeditiously in view of the committed timelines.

Consumers should not be punished for the mistakes of a few government officers who failed in their duty to deliver the power project in good time.

An audit should be done on this project to identify the culprits responsible for the current costly mess. Those found culpable should be made to account for their actions and serve as a deterrent.