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Lights Off---They Called it a 'Dark Continent' & Kenya today is Doing Exactly that!

By Billy Mutai

They called Africa a ‘Dark Continent’--I see the nation Kenya is today
nodding Yes! to the Western bandwagon when country’s energy sector
announces another darkness in the country after Kenya faced similar
situation eight years ago besides subsequent power interference due to
biting Hydro-electric Power (HEP) shortage.

…Yes! Yes! Yes! do I hear Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU)
boss Atwoli singing the chorus with his infamous yes’s slogan to the
white man’s premonition of the black Africa.

The shortage that leaves section of the country without power for at
least 72 hours a week cuts down on economical output by at least one
quarter casting doubts on country’s socio-economical growth.

This menace undoubtedly sends the nation to the lower ranks among the
developing countries.

When Kenya Association of Manufactures (KAM) cry foul of insufficient
energy supply for their industries, it is an absolute economical
failure taking into account the ‘general fear’ of potential foreign
and local investors in the country.

Amid serialization of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kenya’s
economy, the basic development ingredients including electricity power
and upbeat strategies are still myriad of miles away.

The Vision 2030 could just be another white elephant yet a well dreamt
dream that could deliver a realistic economical revolution.

In the wake of immense power of telecommunication and industrial
revolution globally, a dreamer who had just completed his
undergraduate programme was already seizing his niche in the recently
launched Fiber Optic Project in Kenya.
.
The graduate is working on a web-based international outsourcing
center right at his room in his rural home. But on the flip side, the
so-called power rationing cannot allow him the envisaged trend to
business.

Even before the rural dwellers harvest the first fruits of the
‘always-promised’ electrification of villages, they were bombarded
with power rationing notice in the media yet electricity dependent
projects have already taken root in country’s village and slums.

Rural power electrification is undoubtedly an economical powerhouse
but the extended electricity wires to trading centers, industries,
health centers, learning institutions without the much needed energy
is a symbol of economical downturn.

The bulk of country’s youths employed in the semi-skilled sectors
including the Jua-Kali, hair dressing and other self-employment are
hard-hit by the irregular electricity supply. When they cannot run
their business effectively, sources of the basic needs is completely
sealed leaving them retreat to the impoverished villages and slums and
eventually bears socio-economical crisis.

Mechanic sector that employees another patch of youths is neither
speared by the HEP shortage as majority of sector’s activities are
dependent on electronic energy.
On the bitter end, it is the poor who are compelled to the extreme
side of poverty gap. Those who brand themselves well-off feel just a
pinch of electricity shortage as they seek refuge in the expensive oil
energy.

The well established business conglomerates could be bothered by the
hitch but the economical power bestows them a number of choices of
production as generators are automatically switched on immediately HEP
is broken.

This leaves them an upper hand in exploring the small scale industries
and business who are only dependent on the HEP.

This is therefore an open door to widening of the gap between the few
rich Kenyan population and the poor who are the bulk of the citizens.

Despite the excuses by energy sector that the rivers are drying up,
it is partly to blame for the HEP crisis.

Even as Mau Complex saga takes political twits, Mt. Kenya that was
earlier destroyed is just extending its consequences to the current
low water level in the Tana River that draws its waters to the
seven-Folk dams that supply the country with HEP.

Irresponsible farming up the hill as well as along the river banks has
lead to low water levels. Illegal irrigation methods are also drawing
away water from the tributaries that feed River Tana.

On the other hand, Mau Complex, the source of myriad rivers in the
Rift Valle Province including the envisaged Sondu Miriu HEP Project is
on the dwindling end.

The recent visit to Nyanza Province by the President and the Prime
Minister could just be a mockery after they visited the Miriu HEP
Project noting the dropping levels of water driving the turbines.

Destruction in one of country’s water towers; Mau Complex has been
adversely felt at River Sondu rendering the HEP project fruitless.

Nonetheless, the skyrocketing population growth in the global arena
and even locally does not spear the ‘still remaining’ water towers
across the country.

As population hits the tops, environmental and ecological related
resources including water catchments areas will in a way be interfered
with.

It is therefore time Kenyans get a lee-way to curb the outstanding crisis.

Renewable sources of energy including the wind energy and solar energy
should be explored in the country to caution the HEP shortage.