In 1975, a 25-year-old Kodak Engineer Steve Sasson presented his invention (the concept of digital cameras) to the management of the company but it was given a wide berth. Reason, the management had fears that the digital cameras will annihilate the market of its core business- films. Almost four decades later, in 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy.
In his own words, Jack Canfield once said, “Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.” If only Kodak had seen Digital Cameras as an opportunity and embraced it as its core business instead of trying to stifle it, it could be among the global tech giants today.
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) seems not to understand this despite the writing being on the wall. Apart from its delinquency which consumers are tired of, today people are increasingly getting aware of the environment and moving towards green energy. People, small and big corporations are slowly embracing solar and wind energy. It is funny that even after acknowledging this fact, Kenya Power is still adamant to embrace solar energy. Instead they are busy fighting the idea through institutions like the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
More surprising is the sudden change of tone of EPRA which five years ago seemed to be on a correct path of encouraging the use of solar energy. The draconian rules being put forth by EPRA will not help KPLC, they will only accelerate its demise as people will dislike it more. It is already happening. More than 100 Total petrol stations countrywide just switched to solar energy, M-kopa solar and Sunking are taking over rural areas while Chloride Exide is making strides in urban centers.
Kenya Power cannot stop change; they can only take advantage of it to grow their market lest they be dragged to business oblivion.
Written by Brian Toywa