@pkoli eskom and KPLC cannot be compared since eskom is both the sole producer and distributer of power which comes along with its own problems....

I did not think KETRACO are in competition with KPLC as I thought they just dealt with high voltage which is supplied to KPLC to distribute to the national grid?

@guru267,

KETRACO will be in developing all new transmission systems. KPLC will manage old ones and will continue to distribute.

@Guru,
KETRACO will manage the new transmission systems. KPLC will manage the old systems, old & distribution systems

Folks - KETRACO will build new transmission systems... I think KETRACO will try to remain relevant or expand its fiefdom by managing their own. Politics in any public body.

In addition, for LARGE (Bamburi, Pokot Cement, etc) users, KETRACO may build a direct supply route...

It is a Watermelon... YES & NO...

YES - It will carry electricity from the new projects e.g. wind farm to urban centres. KPLC does that now. There is a provision that it can directly supply large users if not already supplied by KPLC e.g. the new Pokot Cement factory, etc...

NO - The main/majority of the customers are already hooked to KPLC.
KETRACO will be like Thika Superhighway delivering cars from Thika to Muranga Rd Roundabout then KPLC takes over to the individual houses/businesses

I hope Eng.(Dr.)J.M Mativo is not a member of Wazua.

@Jaina - True except I think prepaid will take another 3 years before most domestic users are on it

The energy sector organisation has had a lot of re-organisation lately and this has left us a little mixed up. At the bottom of the pyramid are power producers. This has been completely liberalised with KenGen and other IPP players generating and selling electricity in bulk to KPLC.KPLC then transmits electricity at High Voltage, then steps down the voltage for distribution to various users, industrial and domestic.

Geothermal Development Company was formed to take up the risk of upfront geothermal resource exploration and appraisal. Once a resource has been quantified, KenGen or any other IPP (Independed power producer) will put up a power station. Government will meet GDC cost so that the power compan does not pass over the cost to KPLC and hence consumers.


All new transmission systems will be build by KETRACO and will levy wheeling charges to any producer of electricity. The electricty will then be distributed by KPLC to end users. So generator gets paid for electricity generated, KETRACO gets paid for transmitting electricity and KPLC for distribution.KETRACO gets funding from government. KPLC will own old trasmission sytems and all distribution systems. KETRACO will own and manage new transmission system.

Rural Electrification Company is for extending the electric grid in rural areas.

In future, major users like cement industries will buy electricity from generators. These users will only incur mainly wheeling and generation costs.

In the power sector we also have the regulator ERC. Ministry of energy is mainly for policy.

I hope this makes the sector alittle clearer to Wazuians.

@horton elaborate pleez