The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) wants energy minister Kiraitu Murungi to resign over alleged mismanagement in the energy sector, the latest being the ongoing power rationing programme.
COTU secretary general, Francis Atwoli, says that the current shortfalls in electricity supply are as a result of poor planning and management on the part of all industry players and therefore the minister concerned should take responsibility.
“Kiraitu Murungi used to be a very promising political activist but he has failed to carryout his duties effectively as a minister and should therefore resign. Vital reforms in the energy sector can best be addressed in the absence of the minister” said Mr. Atwoli.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at COTU headquarters, Atwoli asked Kenya Power to reconsider the rationing programme as it will adversely affect industrial workers. He said that power affects every area of production and its absence makes life very difficult.
“ Most workers in industries are paid per hour and most of functions rely heavily on electricity. Power rationing will therefore translate to lose of income for them,” Mr. Atwoli said.
On Monday, Kenya Power announced a rationing programme and attributed the shortfall in electric supply to drought and breakdown of power generating plants. Mr. Atwoli however, says that this should not be the case as most generating plants are inappropriately located yet there is a lot of water that is not put to productive use.
“I get electricity supply to my rural home in western Kenya only once a week and yet this is a region with some of the largest rivers in Kenya. It is not logical to build some dams like Masinga in areas that experience perpetual rain failure,” said Mr. Atwoli.
Meanwhile, the rationing programme, scheduled to start on Wednesday evening, will affect the bulk of industrial and retail consumers at the main consumption points in Nairobi, Western Kenya, and Mt Kenya region. The programme, according to Kenya Power, could go on until late in the year depending on whether the short October to November rains manage to fill the main dams along River Tana.
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