Members of Parliament have put the Energy Ministry under pressure over rising fuel prices and slow progress in electricity connection projects, raising tough questions during a session of the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday.
Lawmakers, led by Aldai MP Marianne Keitany and Lugari MP Nabii Nabwire, challenged the ministry to explain the recent fuel price increase and delays in delivering power connections across the country. The concerns come amid growing public frustration over the cost of living and stalled development projects.
Keitany questioned the justification for the latest fuel price hike, pressing the ministry for clear answers on what had changed within a short period.
Nabwire, who chaired the session, faulted the ministry for what she termed as mixed messaging and demanded accountability from Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira.
“As a ministry, today you say this and tomorrow you act differently. Hardly two weeks ago, you assured the public that there was enough fuel and no crisis. What is this crisis about?” Nabwire asked.
In his response, Wachira appeared guarded, saying he may not be in a position to address all concerns but insisted that the government had taken steps to cushion consumers from higher costs.
“It is true we generate power, and we have reduced VAT from 16 percent to 12 percent. Without government interventions, prices could have risen even higher,” he said.
Keitany sought further clarification on whether the higher fuel prices would affect electricity generation and business operations.
Wachira maintained that electricity costs remain stable, assuring that the impact of fuel price changes would be limited.
“Power bills are the same. While fuel price increments are felt across sectors, we are working to increase hydroelectric power generation to reduce reliance on thermal power,” he explained.
He added that the ministry was focused on keeping electricity prices steady and avoiding any future increases.
Attention then shifted to the stalled Last Mile Connectivity Project, where MPs from several regions expressed anger over lack of progress despite earlier launches.
Nabwire described the project as a “ghost project,” saying there was little to show on the ground.
“You came to my constituency and launched a project that has never taken off. What is going on?” she asked.
Wachira dismissed the claims, saying the project was ongoing but had been slowed by funding delays.
“This is not a ghost project. We experienced delays due to late disbursement of funds to contractors, which slowed implementation,” he said.
He explained that the ministry had used up its budget for the 2025/2026 financial year by December, forcing it to seek additional funds.
“We accessed an additional Sh3 billion under Article 223, of which Sh2 billion has already been disbursed. About 75 percent of contractors have been paid, and we expect the project to pick up pace,” Wachira added.
However, several MPs disputed this, saying little work had been done in their areas.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said, “Nothing has moved in most parts of Busia. The project was launched with a lot of fanfare, but nothing has happened.”
Teso South MP Mary Emase raised concerns that contractors could be struggling to handle the work, while Turkana Central MP Joseph Emathe Namuar expressed frustration over long delays.
“Nothing has been done in Turkana. It has been a matter of waiting and waiting. This is very painful,” he said.
Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo also questioned the procurement process and sought assurances that electricity prices would not rise with fuel costs.
Wachira defended the ministry’s record, pointing to increased electricity connections across the country.
“In September 2022, we had 8.8 million Kenyans connected to electricity. That number has now risen to 10.1 million,” he said.
He admitted that fuel costs do affect electricity pricing but insisted the impact would remain low.
Wachira also cited ongoing projects, including a substation in Lodwar, which is expected to reduce reliance on expensive thermal power.
“Reducing the use of fuel-powered generation will ultimately lower electricity costs for consumers,” he noted.
MPs concluded by urging the ministry to channel more funds to the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation to speed up the Last Mile Connectivity Project and ensure Kenyans benefit from electricity access.
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