Valentine Anyango, a former Woman Representative aspirant for Kisumu County, has urged Kenyans to have faith in the President William Ruto's judgment regarding the Adani deal.
Anyango, who contested the Kisumu Women Representative post in the 2022 General Elections but lost, has been a vocal supporter of the Kenya Kwanza administration since then.
Valentine, who was appearing before a local television Political Forum, emphasized that, as head of state, the President prioritizes the country's best interests.
"If the President says the Adani deal is good for us, then as a country we need to believe that because he is the head of the nation and he has the best interest for us" She stated.
President William Ruto, recently defended the Ksh 95 Billion deal inked between the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company, KETRACO, and India's Adani Energy.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 35MW Orpower Twenty-Two Geothermal Plant in Menengai, Nakuru County, Ruto highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in unlocking the country’s resources and driving industrialization while creating jobs.
Ruto pointed out that relying on the private sector for such projects, instead of borrowing, allows for more efficient implementation.
“Many people would have expected us to borrow money to invest in this facility. This is not the right way because we do not want to burden Kenyans with additional taxes and loans when the private sector can do it more efficiently,” he explained.
He noted that PPPs, including through instruments like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), are key to developing critical infrastructure like the Expressway and power transmission lines.
Ruto emphasized that partnerships with the private sector in infrastructure projects will help reduce Kenya’s tax burden and reliance on debt for development.
The deal, which is estimated to cost Sh.95.68 billion (USD 736 million), will see the Indian company develop, finance, construct and operate critical transmission lines and substations across Kenya.
For 30 years, Adani Energy Solutions will manage the infrastructure under the agreement, ensuring its long-term sustainability before transferring it to KETRACO.
The project will enhance the national electricity infrastructure (transmission lines and substations) and in effect ensure reliable and widespread access to power that will support Kenya’s growing economy and development goals.
The project will include the construction of several high-voltage transmission lines and substations.
The contract involves the construction of three high-voltage power transmission lines and two substations in a bid to enhance connectivity and stability in the national grid.
The lines that are set to be financed through this agreement include 400kV (Double-Circuit) Gilgil-Thika-Malaa-Konza Line: Spanning 208.73 kilometer (km), 220kV Rongai-Keringet-Chemosit Line: Covering 99.98 km, 132 KiloVolts (KV), Menengai-Ol Kalou-Rumuru, which will be an 89.88 km line, a 400/220kV substation at Lessos, and a 132/33kV substation at Thurdibuoro.
According to data from The Ministry of Energy, Kenya's current effective installed (grid connected) electricity capacity is 2,990 Megawatts (MW). Electricity supply is predominantly sourced from hydro and fossil fuel (thermal) sources.
This generation energy mix comprises hydro at 838 MW, geothermal at 754 MW, two per cent from biogas co-generation, wind at 437 MW and solar at 173 MW.
Kenya possesses a geothermal energy potential of 10,000MW, of which we have only exploited about 980MW to date and more needs to be done to tap this potential for economic growth.
