Babu Owino Asks Gov't to Provide Free Electricity to Kenyans: "Other Countries Do"

Babu Owino Asks Gov't to Provide Free Electricity to Kenyans: "Other Countries Do"

  • Embakasi East member of parliament Babu Owino argued the high cost of electricity had increased the cost of living
  • In September 2022, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) increased token prices after the Energy, Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced high fuel costs
  • President William Ruto's adviser David Ndii told Kenyans on Twitter that the Kenya Kwanza administration had not promised voters cheap electricity in their manifesto

Embakasi East member of parliament Babu Owino has asked the Kenya Kwanza government under the leadership of President William Ruto to provide free electricity to Kenyans.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaks on March 17.
Babu Owino wants the government to lower the cost of living, Photo: Babu Owino.
Source: Facebook

Speaking on the floor of the August House on Wednesday, March 22, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker argued the high cost of electricity had increased the cost of living.

Babu cited Libya and Turkmenistan as countries that previously provided free power to citizens.

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"If you increase the value of electricity today, the manufacturers manufacturing different goods will literally increase the prices of goods to compensate for the high value of electricity. That's why the cost of unga is high due to the high cost of production. That goes to other goods being manufactured.

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Even the cost of fuel is high depending on the cost of electricity. The cost of electricity must only be reduced in this country but it should be provided for free like in other countries. We remember when president Gaddafi was in Libya, electricity was free," he said.

Kenya Power increases token prices

In September 2022, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) increased token prices after the Energy, Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced high fuel costs.

While responding to a customer who lamented why he got 39 units after purchasing tokens worth KSh 1,000, the electricity distributor said there were adjustments in the calculation of the bill.

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"The regulator has adjusted the fuel cost and inflation components of the bill, hence the increase in the token prices," it tweeted.

David Ndii says power costs to remain high

The President's Council of Economic Affairs chairperson David Ndii told off middle-class Kenyans asking for cheaper electricity yet they were spending more on other luxurious subscriptions.

This came weeks after Ndii told Kenyans on Twitter that the Kenya Kwanza administration had not promised voters cheap electricity in their manifesto, explaining that the government's priority was to distribute power sustainably.

In a savage tweet that stirred up emotions online, Ndii specifically said that middle-class Kenyans had no ground to demand cheaper power amidst government indicators that electricity prices will go higher.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

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