Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga today held a meeting with Triumph Power Generating Company Limited to review power purchase agreement with Kenya Power Limited Company.

Triumph Power CEO Mr. Siva Shankar Kota said that Kenya Power utilizes only 85 percent of the power they generate every month and that the Triumph Power Plant is fired by Heavy Fuel Oil which means it is a thermal oil plant.

 According to the Mr. Siva, Kenya Power entered into agreement with Triumph Power to design, procure, construct, install, test, commission, operate and maintain the Plant in according to Prudent Operating Practice.

The Presidential Taskforce Review on PPAs noted that the fuel charge on a kilowatt basis of Gulf and Triumph Power were nearly double the compared to similar plants within the same locality in financial year 2018.

Chairman Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga said Kenyans wanted to be told why their electricity was expensive terming it as the reason they were grilling the various Independent Power Producers.

“We have an obligation as the elected representatives of the people to ensure that the cost of electricity which plays a major role in the economy comes down since it had contributed to other many services being expensive, that is why we are probing all players in the sector to establish where the problem is,” said Sen. Wamatinga.

Turkana Senator Lomenen called for a forensic audit on the engagements between Kenya Power and Lighting Company and Lake Triumph Power Limited to establish if there was corruption since there is no reason why the Independent Power Producers could be allowed to sell power at an exorbitant price without some entities benefitting.

The Senate Energy Committee Chairman, Senator Wahome Wamatinga said that as elected leaders they were under pressure from the electorate to explain why the cost of electricity had skyrocketed in the past few months and that they will not allow a few individuals to benefit at the expense of millions of Kenyans who were suffering.

Members present were Vice Chairman William Kisang, Dr. Oburu Oginga, Sen. James Lomenen and Sen. Danson Mungatana.