Energy Ministry targets 10 million customers by 2025

The government plans to connect at least 10 million customers to the electricity grid by the year 2025, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Alex Wachira, has said.

He said about 9,765,000 million Kenyans were already connected to the power grid as the Ministry was working to connect more than 25,000 Kenyans by next year as the country gradually moves towards attaining 100 per cent electricity connectivity by the year 2030.

"Right now we are at 9.7 million customers who are already connected to electricity. Next year we are hoping to cross the 10 million mark in terms of connectivity, “said Wachira.

The PS spoke in Gikamba sub-location, Kieni Nyeri county, where he supervised the implementation of the last mile connectivity programme by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).

During the exercise, about 314 homes were connected with electricity, with Wachira terming the commissioning as the perfect Christmas gift for the residents who have not had electricity for more than 50 years.

"This is a huge project as we are going to install five transformers covering the entire Gikamba location and serve over 300 households, “said the PS.

Wachira said that through the last mile programme, REREC has connected about 800,000 Kenyans with power in the last two years. The PS added that the Ministry is on course insuring that it transforms the lives of more Kenyans by bringing electricity closer to the people.

 "Electricity is an enabler. For instance, with this connection, the people can now set up small businesses such as posho mills, welding businesses, barber shops, and many more, and that is what we call Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda, “he said.

 While making his presentation at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology on the Medium Term Plan IV in June this year, the PS said that access to electricity is one of key deliverables for the MTP IV and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

 According to the PS, for Nyeri County, the government had set aside Sh 479 million for an electricity project for the six constituencies in Nyeri County. He noted that out of the 6 constituencies, Kieni and Mukurwe-iniare lagging behind in electricity connectivity.

 "The other constituencies are at about 85 per cent and we hope that as we achieve this medium-term Term Plan we have plans to ensure that Kenyans as a whole have 100 per cent access to electricity, “he stated.

Kenfred Mwenda, a Gikamba resident, lauded the government for connecting them with electricity. He said that as a young person, he is looking forward to making use of the electricity by venturing into the Cyber Cafè business.

"Our laptops have been gathering dust because we only use in university due of electricity. But now we will make use of them to start small businesses like cyber cafès and movie shops, “he said.

His sentiments were echoed by James Ndereba who said the initiative will unlock multiple development opportunities for the Gikamba community, which has lagged behind due to lack of electricity for years.

 "We are very happy because the connectivity will bring a lot of development in this area. For instance, dairy farmers who used to manually chop napier grass will now be able to mechanize their farming by acquiring chaff cutters. This will generally increase our production and profits for us," stated Ndereba.