Cost Of Electricity To Go Down- KenGen CEO
Should the KenGen boss' promise materialise, Kenyans could enjoy a cheaper cost of electricity after Kenya Power sparked a nationwide uproar by increasing token prices
Marvin Chege 
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Njenga has committed to ensuring that Kenyans enjoy cheaper electricity prices in the coming days.
This is as KenGen announced in a statement on Monday, February 5 that it has increased hydropower generation after the country’s main dams in the Seven Forks Cascade hit one of the highest water levels in the recent past.
The impressive performance on the hydropower side of the business has largely been driven by Masinga Dam, which is Kenya's largest, maintaining near maximum water levels of 1,056 meters above sea level (mASL), over the last three days.
“We are happy to report that we are receiving very good inflows from the Mount Kenya and Aberdares catchment areas which has led to high water levels at our dams,” said Njenga.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) Managing Director and CEO Peter Njenga during a past address. /KENGEN
He added, “This will see Kenyans reap the full benefit of cheaper electricity.”
The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE)-listed company said its operational boost at Seven Forks has been remarkable over the last 24 hours, with the power stations recording a peak output of more than 471MW which will go a long way in stabilizing grid-scale electricity costs.
Amid the rising water levels, KenGen moved to reassure Kenyans especially those living downstream of the five dams saying they do not expect to have water spilling downriver any time soon.
“Despite getting close to the maximum water levels at the Masinga Dam which is our biggest, we have not reached spilling level thanks to a robust water management program being implemented by our engineers. We however remain vigilant and will issue an alert should we envision a potential water overflow from the large dams,” said Eng. Njenga.
KenGen said it had noted reduced inflows over the last one week giving further assurance that Masinga Dam will not reach spilling level any time soon.
Should the KenGen boss' promise materialise, Kenyans could enjoy a cheaper cost of electricity after Kenya Power sparked a nationwide uproar by increasing token prices following its latest review on electricity costs.
Kenya Power, operating as KPLC in its ticker, had raised the token prices after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) raised the energy charge by 8.7 per cent to Ksh4.33 per unit. Initially, the regulator charged Ksh3.98 per unit.
EPRA also increased the foreign exchange rate fluctuation adjustment charge by 100.7 per cent to a record-high of Ksh6.46 per unit up from Ksh3.71 per unit.
The Value Added Tax (VAT) was also reduced in computing the new token values, given that Kenya Power charges a 16 per cent VAT on the pre-paid token units on the components such as fixed charges, consumption, fuel cost charges, forex adjustments, demand charges and inflation adjustments.
As a result, someone buying tokens worth Ksh250 for example was in mid-January getting 7.82 units down from 8.87 units the previous week.
Notably, this increase in token prices comes contrary to President William Ruto's directive to the Ministry of Energy to increase the distribution of Hydro-generated power which was to lead to a reduction in electricity prices.
![How Gor Mahia Beat Murang'a Seals Despite Second Half Scare [PHOTOS]](https://viraltea.co.ke/uploads/images/202405/image_140x98_663793954bc76.jpg){kind=small}
