Members of the National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy have raised concerns over the performance of the Hadado Mini-Grid Power Plant in Wajir West Constituency following an inspection visit to assess its operations and service delivery.
The committee, led by chairperson David Pkosing, visited the facility as part of its oversight mandate to review public energy projects and ensure they are delivering services to the communities they were built to serve. The plant serves as the main source of electricity for a large part of Hadado Sub-County, making its performance central to daily life and economic activity in the area.
During the visit, lawmakers found that the plant was not operating as expected, with frequent and prolonged power outages affecting residents. The committee attributed the challenges to outdated and non-functioning equipment, including solar storage batteries and a standby generator that were either obsolete or not in use.
The delegation included Wajir West MP Yusuf Farah, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, and Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere. The MPs noted that the condition of the equipment had significantly reduced the plant’s ability to provide a stable electricity supply, leaving many households and businesses without reliable power.
The committee said the situation has disrupted access to essential services and slowed economic activity in the region, which relies on the mini-grid as its sole source of electricity. Members stressed the need for urgent intervention to restore full functionality and improve service delivery.
Pkosing called for closer coordination among agencies responsible for the project, including Kenya Power, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, and other stakeholders involved in energy infrastructure development. He said delays in addressing the problems at the plant had continued to affect residents who depend on it for electricity.
“An additional 300 need to be connected to this mini-grid because it can support that. But you also need to connect these people to power without requiring them to make any payments under the last-mile connectivity,” said Pkosing.
The committee also directed that more households in the area be connected to the grid, noting that the current capacity can accommodate additional users. Members emphasised the importance of expanding access to electricity while ensuring affordability for residents.
Lawmakers further called for the exploration of alternative energy solutions to provide more reliable power without increasing costs for consumers. The committee said diversifying energy sources could help reduce outages and improve the long-term sustainability of the electricity supply in the region.
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