Statehouse spoke person, Hussein Mohammed has said power tariffs will be lowered because of the El Nino rains.
While speaking during a press briefing at State House Nairobi on Monday, 27 November, Hussein revealed resolutions from the special cabinet meeting on flood mitigation measures chaired by President William Ruto.
Hussein Mohammed said El Nino rains had brought both positive and negative effects to the country.
He noted that hydro-generated power production had improved by over 20 per cent due to the ongoing high rainfall across various parts of the country.
“We are talking about hydro generated power and tariffs now will be lowered for the consumer,” Hussein Mohammed noted.
Furthermore, Masinga, Kamburu and Kiambere dams have been reported to overflow any time soon with residents being warned on the aftermath of the inevitable disasters.
However, hydroelectric power (HEP) had improved production by over 20 per cent.
Directions to CS Chirchir on Power Prices
Also, the government issued a directive to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Davis Chirchir to give priority to HEP generation.
“Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in consultation with all agencies within the sector to give priority to maximum production, uptake and distribution of hydro-generated power,” Hussein stated.
The spokesperson said El Nino rains were most beneficial to farmers, who were receiving support from the government.
Also Read: Kenyans Blast Ruto as He Mourns El Nino Victims
“For farmers KCC has been given 500 billion Kenya Shillings so that they can offtake this milk from farmers, that is something positive,” Hussein cited, urging an optimistic outlook to the situation.
Further, Hussein addressed the issue of President Ruto downplaying the El Nino phenomenon.
President Ruto Took El Nino Warnings Seriously
Additionally, Hussein noted that the President took warnings by the Meteorological department seriously, noting that this was the reason the president was the first person to declare himself on the matter.
Also Read: El Nino to Last for Six Months; World Met
“They classified this as an El Nino phenomenon, the rains are as a result of the El Nino phenomenon and there was a warning. The same met downgraded. So, the President was speaking from the information from the met,” Hussein cited.
However, Kenya Met department had earlier on faulted the president on his remarks, noting that they were misinformation.
“I am yet to know the source of that information, but as the head of the department, I needed to state that the forecast has not changed. I needed to state that I am sorry about that miscommunication because as far as I am and the science is concerned… we are all in an El Nino season,” Kenya Met boss David Gikungu stated.
