The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Tuesday launched the" Kaa Safe" Mtaani campaign to create awareness and promote safety in the energy sector.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi said they have made significant strides in improving safety regulations and enforcement mechanisms in the energy sector. "We recently strengthened the framework for regulation surrounding LPG and petroleum storage and distribution, with a particular focus on quality control, and in the electricity sector, have increasingly ensured that power distribution infrastructure meets stringent safety standards even as we continue to conduct strict nationwide audits to ensure compliance," the CS said.
The CS, however, acknowledged that there are disturbing statistics on safety in the sector but noted that even as the ministry attempts to ensure access to energy as demand rises, safety must be the cornerstone of the progress. "The statistics report by EPRA shows that between July and December 2024 alone, nearly 195,000 new customers were connected to electricity, pushing the total number of fully connected customers to just under 10 million.
This, the CS noted, is very significant but added that with electricity access, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, there is need to strengthen safety education to prevent accidents.
