Page 9 - AfrElec Week 04 2022

AfrElec POLICY AfrElec

Kenya’s government sets

30-day deadline to vacate

power line wayleaves

KENYA KENYA’S government has issued a 30-day least KES246 mn ($2.1mn) on materials and
notice for people who have encroached on land labour while lost business and damage is esti-
reserved for power transmission lines to vacate mated to be billions of shillings.
the wayleaves. “The effects on the economy have been
The Ministry of Energy said that, depending colossal. If the Naivasha challenge had not been
on the load of electricity transmitted and future averted, we would have seen our country plunge
expansion plans, the wayleaves (reserved land) to darkness for 3 to 4 weeks,” she said.
should be between 60 and 120 metres on either A scheme to vandalise pylons in Naivasha and
side of power transmission lines. result in weeks of power outage was thwarted by
Kenya experienced a nationwide electric- security intelligence.
ity outage on January 11 when four pylons of “We must work together to be a step or two
high-voltage power transmission line fell down ahead of criminals. Working hand in hand
at Embakasi in Nairobi after vandals tampered will ensure we deliver secure transmission and
with critical parts of the installations. that our people have access to safe energy,” said
The Ministry of Interior said clearances of Matiangi.
power line wayleaves will be coordinated by National government administrators have
County Commissioners and grassroots-based the task of enforcing the ban on scrap metal
national government administrators in consul- trade announced by Kenya’s President Uhuru
tation with the affected people. Kenyatta on January 20 to discourage vandalism
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi of critical infrastructure.
issued vacate notice on Thursday (January 27) “They will be required to develop database
at a meeting co-chaired by Energy Cabinet Sec- of all scrap metal dealers in their counties and
retary Monica Juma and attended by national verify registration and compliance status of busi-
government administration officers. nesses,” said Matiangi.
Senior managers of Kenya Power and Light- County Commissioners working with area
ing Company (KPLC) together with senior commanders of Critical Infrastructure Pro-
officials of other energy state corporations tection Unit (CIPU) and energy sector man-
and County Police Commanders attended the agers will map out energy installations and file
forum. bi-monthly reports on security status.™
Juma said repair of recently vandalised power
line was expensive as the government spent at

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