Kenya has officially frozen planned electricity tariff hikes that were scheduled to take effect from July 1, a decision driven by fears of sparking public outrage and protests ahead of the August 2027 General Election. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi announced that Kenya Power has withdrawn its application for new tariffs, halting a public participation process. This move comes amidst rising fuel prices, exacerbated by the Iran war, which have already led to deadly protests and government interventions to reduce diesel costs. The suspension is a setback for Kenya Power's efforts to secure billions needed for crucial network upgrades, potentially impacting the reliability of electricity supply to its over 10.2 million customers. The decision aims to protect households and businesses from further cost escalations, particularly as inflation recently reached a 27-month high of 6.7 percent due to increased energy prices.