Govt to spend Sh36b on Last-Mile Electricity Connectivity project

Wangari Mwangi-KNA

The Government intends to spend Sh36 billion to connect Kenyan households with electricity through the Last-Mile Connectivity Project, Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, has said.

Out of the funds, Sh8.6 billion will go towards connecting 115,000 households in nine counties of the Mount Kenya region.

Speaking in Kieni Nyeri County while on a development tour in the area, Prof Kindiki said the government is in the process of sourcing additional funds to ensure that every Kenyan is connected to the national grid.

Enumerating the government’s development milestones over the last two years, the DP noted that the government had managed to increase the number of Kenyans with access to electricity from 2.7 in 2013, to the current nine million with plans on top gear to connect one million more over in the next 20 months.  

“As a government, we know there are areas in this country without electricity connection. Our goal is to ensure that each household in the country is connected to power,” the DP said.

The DP who was accompanied by Principal Secretaries, Alex Wachira (Energy), Eng. Joseph Mbugua (Roads and Transport) and Ann Wang’ombe (Gender and Affirmative Action).

They said the government was keen on accelerating infrastructure development, spurring economic growth and improving the livelihoods of Kenyans.

He noted that the country is in a better place economically and Kenyans would soon start reaping the benefits of the stable economy.

“Right now, because the economy is stable, we now have enough funds. We want to ensure that in the next three years, we have addressed issues of road expansion, water and electricity connectivity and youth employment, so that our country is in a better place,” he said.

During the tour, he also commissioned a Sh733 million Last-Mile Connectivity Project from Aguthi, Mbogo-ini, Gikamba and Murungaru in Kieni Constituency.

The project will be undertaken by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation and is targeting 10,903 beneficiaries.     

He also launched a Sh164 million Last-Mile Connectivity Project which will provide electricity to 1,163 beneficiaries.