Kenyans, particularly investors, located around the Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ), are set to benefit from the imminent completion of a new substation, promising the most competitive electricity rates in the country.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced the latest update on the project after conducting a thorough inspection tour of the Kenya Power’s Substation Naivasha Special Economic Zone.

The tour aimed to monitor the progress of the power project infrastructures, set to significantly enhance the stability of the system.

Chirchir expressed his optimism during the inspection, stating, “The Substation will provide quality and reliable power supply to the target customers within the Special Economic Zone in Naivasha and the Inland Container Depot, as well as reduce system losses by shortening the 11kV feeders within the target load centers.”

The completion of the substation is expected to revolutionize the energy landscape in the region, with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) having set a uniform tax rate of just Ksh10 per kilowatt for special economic zones (SEZs).

This move has been lauded as a significant step in attracting investment into Kenya, with Chirchir affirming, “The rates were revised downwards to shore up investor interest in putting up establishments in Kenya.”

The Naivasha SEZ, covers 1,000 acres with a range of facilities including an Inland Container Depot, a Railway Marshalling Yard, a logistics zone, and a public utility area with a supporting road network. Chirchir emphasized the potential impact of the new substation, saying, “The completion of the substation will be a game-changer for the Naivasha SEZ and its surrounding areas, providing a significant boost to the region’s economic development.”