Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has refuted claims of calling for the sacking of Petroleum and Energy CS Davis Chirchir following the recent nationwide blackouts.
According to him, the remarks in questions are false.
Kahiga further said that he was with Chirchir at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when the nation was plunged into darkness.
The two were coming back to the country from an official duty abroad and Kahiga said he witnessed the CS intervene to have power restored.
“I wish to clarify that I never demanded the sacking of CS Davis Chichir for the recent power failure in my Jamhuri Day speech. All I said is that I was with waziri (CS) at the JKIA when the blackout happened. I said he frantically made calls to have power restored,” the governor said.
During Jamhuri Day celebrations at Dedan Kimathi Stadium in Nyeri county, Kahiga called for the sacking of a CS, who is charge of airports, for the frequent blackouts that have hit JKIA, seemingly referring to Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen.
“The other day I arrived in the county from abroad and was welcomed by a power outage. Such a CS should be sacked early in the morning,” he said.
While addressing the Sunday evening power outage, CS Chirchir said that he experienced it first hand while at the airport.
“I was at the airport when the conveyor stopped and we could not get our luggage. It is a challenge that we are really ashamed of as a country and we need to address it,” he said.
Chirchir further revealed that the blackout was caused by overloading of the Kisumu-Muhoroni powerline.
He added that the issue would be addressed by building additional power lines.
“There are so many constraints in the transmission of electrons from where they are generated and sometimes the networks trip when they are overloaded,” the Energy CS said.
