upepo
Elder Lister
The most surprising news to come out of media houses in the last few weeks is the revelation that Kenya Power is on course to rolling out a national network of charging stations for electric cars. Ostensibly, this project is supposed to create new revenue streams for the company. Whereas it may seem impressive that we are keeping pace with the green-car trends in the developed world, we cannot miss the irony that clads the whole scheme. First, it beats logic that Kenya Power would be willing to bet billions of shillings in investments to cater for a market of a few hundred cars.
Although the optimists among us would hasten to point to the future growth prospects of electric cars, it would be important to remember that we are in a third-world country, where people can barely afford used cars, let alone new ones. They seem to ignore the fact that new electric cars are more expensive than new fuel-powered cars. And considering that the used car market for electric cars is still centuries away, where exactly is Kenya Power hoping to find clients for its charging stations? Still, is the company satisfied with the country’s mains connectivity of barely 50% that it should now be pursuing such inconsequential niches? These are some of the important questions the top management at the company should be addressing. Perhaps these roles would be better handled by private sector players through the already existing network of fuel stations.
Video grab of an electric car charging station in Hurlingham
To any trained eye, this project has all the hallmarks of an eating scheme, where people in key positions hope to benefit from tenders and/or kickbacks from tenders. The most surprising thing is that nobody seems to question the business rationale behind this venture. Most likely, the company will end up with a heap of disused, obsoleting facilities, and a few dozen beneficiaries from the supply tenders. People at the company seem to be addicted to projects that demand massive procurement. We have seen it before in faulty transformers, meters, and concrete posts. It seems like the cycle of fabricated demand is not about to end any time soon.
Although the optimists among us would hasten to point to the future growth prospects of electric cars, it would be important to remember that we are in a third-world country, where people can barely afford used cars, let alone new ones. They seem to ignore the fact that new electric cars are more expensive than new fuel-powered cars. And considering that the used car market for electric cars is still centuries away, where exactly is Kenya Power hoping to find clients for its charging stations? Still, is the company satisfied with the country’s mains connectivity of barely 50% that it should now be pursuing such inconsequential niches? These are some of the important questions the top management at the company should be addressing. Perhaps these roles would be better handled by private sector players through the already existing network of fuel stations.
Video grab of an electric car charging station in Hurlingham
To any trained eye, this project has all the hallmarks of an eating scheme, where people in key positions hope to benefit from tenders and/or kickbacks from tenders. The most surprising thing is that nobody seems to question the business rationale behind this venture. Most likely, the company will end up with a heap of disused, obsoleting facilities, and a few dozen beneficiaries from the supply tenders. People at the company seem to be addicted to projects that demand massive procurement. We have seen it before in faulty transformers, meters, and concrete posts. It seems like the cycle of fabricated demand is not about to end any time soon.
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