The Association of Importers of Kenya (AIPK) chairman, Peter Mapembe, has welcomed the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to reduce electricity connection fees.
The president on Wednesday directed Kenya Power to reduce the fees from Sh35,000 to Sh15,000. This is in a move meant to have more Kenyans connected to the grid to power their homes and businesses.
In a press statement to the media houses today, Mapembe expressed hope that the reduction will alleviate the high power cost across the country and urged businesses to pass the reductions to their customers.
He said the move will, in the long run, ensure that rural populations are connected to the national grid and entice them to venture into small scale enterprises and uplift their living standards.
In welcoming the reduction, Mapembe added that the cost of electricity has been one of the major stumbling blocks to the expansion of businesses and the competitiveness of the exports sector.
He noted that high energy charges were driving the cost of doing business up. He is upbeat that the reduction move will give rise to new enterprises.
Mapembe said the move will provide relief not only to businesses but also to individual consumers who have been struggling with high electricity cost.
“The bold move by the president will help boost agricultural production in rural areas and uplift the living standards of farmers,” he said.
Mapembe added that the government should act quickly to bring down the sky-high cost of power as many manufacturing industries are reeling under huge electricity bills. He said this will enable the companies remain in business.
The president said his government was fulfilling its pledges by ensuring rural areas and public schools have electricity.