Ndhiwa: The business community in Amonyo trading center in Ndhiwa constituency is facing significant losses due to prolonged power outages.
According to Kenya News Agency, the most affected are those whose businesses rely heavily on electricity, reporting losses amounting to millions of shillings after enduring a four-month-long power outage. Traders organized demonstrations on Wednesday to voice their grievances and urged Kenya Power to ensure a reliable power supply. They also called on the government to intervene, expressing fears that ongoing outages may lead to business closures.
During the demonstration, the traders chanted, "We want electricity! We are also taxpayers in Kenya!" Addressing reporters afterward, they voiced frustration over the lack of a solution from responsible authorities despite the duration of the outage.
Bernard Odingo, a businessman dealing with refrigerated goods, cited significant losses, stating, "I used to sell assorted goods which depend on electricity. First, I suffered when my goods went bad. Today, I cannot even restock because there is still no electricity."
Maurice Ogalo, a welder, stated that his business had collapsed due to the outage. "As businessmen who rely on power supply, we have been out of business for the last four months," Ogalo said. Similarly, Mercy Jowi, who operates a salon, expressed concerns about the impact on salons and barber shops that have closed due to the lack of electricity.
Efforts to engage Kenya Power have proven futile, according to the traders, who are now appealing to Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi for intervention. "We are appealing to CS Wandayi to come to our aid. We are also taxpayers in this country," Jowi emphasized.
Jowi further highlighted the broader economic implications, stating, "The losses are a serious setback to economic growth in Kenya. The millions we are losing here is significant in the national economy. Let the government intervene and restore electricity." The traders also expressed concerns about rising insecurity in the area attributed to the prolonged blackout. "Cases of theft are increasing here because of the blackout," Ogalo added.