Gov't targets 1 million more homes in electrification plan

The connections are part of a broader electrification effort for the entire Western region, which has already seen thousands of homes connected to the national grid in Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties.

On Tuesday, President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and other leaders inspected the ongoing program in Lukhumbi Village in Shinyalu constituency, where 2,552 households are set to be powered. 

“Power is not only for the rich but it’s a right to be enjoyed by all Kenyans. I have been told there are 93 households in this village. I have instructed that all of them be connected to power free of charge. We are doing the same in every village in Kakamega where 35,000 households will be connected to power. We have invested Sh2.9 billion in this project. We want this county to move forward with the rest of the country,” said President Ruto. 

In total, the Kenya Kwanza Administration, in collaboration with development partners, has invested over Sh7 billion to enhance the last-mile connectivity project in the four counties: Bungoma (Sh2.2 billion), Vihiga (Sh651 million), and Busia (Sh1 billion).

According to figures from the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec), all 12 constituencies in Kakamega County have benefited from this project, designed to provide affordable power access to everyday citizens.

Together with the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, and the European Investment Bank, the government has intensified electrical connections in the Western region over the past two years, achieving record reach during this period.

“We must all support President William Ruto in his desire to unite all Kenyans. We must walk together as a nation. This is the most effective way of bringing development to our people. When we are united and pulling in the same direction, we will bring electricity to the people of Kenya, our hospitals will be better equipped and have medicines, our roads will be tarmacked, that way we will grow the economy,” said Deputy President Kindiki. 

In addition to Shinyalu, other constituencies have also reported significant progress, with the following number of homes lined up for connection: Butere (2,833), Ikolomani (2,567), Khwisero (3,577), Likuyani (1,581), Lugari (3,206), Lurambi (1,323), Malava (3,864), Matungu (2,579), Mumias East (2,647), Mumias West (1,914), and Navakholo (3,679).

Ensuring that every household has access to electricity through the last-mile electrification program remains a top priority for the Kenya kwanza administration. 

In the last two years, over 700,000 Kenyans have been connected to electricity, with an additional one million expected to benefit in the next two years. 

Other partners funding the project on a national scale include the African Development Bank, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). To date, these financiers have provided Sh22 billion to connect 300,000 households across 32 counties.