Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has recently unveiled a significant legislative proposal aimed at amending the Energy Act, with the primary objective of addressing critical issues plaguing the power sector.
Taking to his social media account X, Sifuna shared the intention of his Bill and its potential to bring about much-needed reform within the energy sector.
In his announcement, he outlined the key objectives of the Bill, emphasizing its role in promoting transparency, evaluating the need for new power capacity, and prioritizing green energy sources.
“My Bill seeking to amend the Energy Act has now been published. The Bill seeks to do three things majorly,” the legislator explained.
The first major goal of the Bill is to introduce greater transparency within the energy sector. Sifuna aims to achieve this by prohibiting energy operators from granting generation licenses to any entity that does not disclose its beneficial owners.
“To bar the operator from granting generation licenses to any entity that does not disclose its beneficial owners,” he wrote in part.
This measure is designed to ensure that the ownership structure of power generation entities is fully transparent, reducing the potential for corruption and unethical practices.
The second key objective of Sifuna’s bill is to impose stricter controls on Kenya Power’s ability to enter into new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
The senator intends to achieve this by mandating Kenya Power to thoroughly establish the need for new power capacity before signing any new PPAs.
My bill seeking to amend the Energy Act has now been published.
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) September 14, 2023
The bill seeks to do 3 things majorly.
1. To bar the operator from granting generation licenses to any entity that does not disclose its beneficial owners.
2. To bar KPLC from signing new PPA’s without… pic.twitter.com/r7xGWrIAbY
This step will help prevent unnecessary investment in power generation facilities and ensure that any expansion aligns with the actual demand for electricity in Kenya.
Lastly, his already published bill aims to accelerate Kenya’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
It intends to achieve this by requiring the system operator, also known as the dispatcher, to prioritize power from cheaper green generators over thermal sources.
This shift towards renewable energy sources is expected to reduce carbon emissions, lower electricity costs, and bolster Kenya’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Senator Sifuna expressed his hope that his proposed amendments to the Energy Act would garner support.
