Kakamega County Commissioner John Ondego chaired the KPLC and Kakamega Scrap Metal Business Entrepreneurship meeting at Golf Hotel on Tuesday. In attendance were the KPLC Chief Secretary Officer Bernard Akwa, Gideon Apiyo who chairs the Scrap Metal Council in Kenya and head of security council in the region.
During the conference Ondego stressed on the controversial issue surrounding the metal scrap industry and it’s effects on the power industry. Cases of vandalism has been rampant In the region with majority of the perpetrators being dealers in the metal scrap industry.
KPLC properties that are vandalized oftenly include electricity polls, transformers and electricity towers. Such acts lead to disruption of power supply in the region which negatively impact businesses and households that depend on electricity.
Ondego added that transformers are expensive and can cost to a staggering amount of Ksh500,000 and vandalizing them evidently affects budget that the county receives. Furthermore, he emphasized on the licensing of the metal scrap business in order to curb illegal trading of Kenya Power scraps.
On the other hand, Apiyo assured all the dealers who applied for licences will get them as soon as their businesses are vetted by officials. He also gave an account of benefits scrap dealers will get if their businesses are registered.
“Registered dealers will enjoy benefits of protection from the metal scrap council and will be given an upper hand when getting legal tenders from scrap by products from Kenya power.”
Bernard Akwa remarked on how the metal scrap industry has affected the power industry by promoting fraudulent consumption of Kenya power products especially copper and aluminium which are booming in the market. He reminded dealers how such acts led to a nationwide blackout earlier last year when a transformer exploded in Daima Towers, Kiambere Embakasi.
The Chief Security Officer however promised to work with the Kenya Power in promoting legal metal scrap business. She urged dealers to involve themselves with clean businesses, warning that offenders will fined Kshs5 million or a jail term of up to 10 years.