President William Ruto and his Deputy Kithure Kindiki have launched the completed Sh2.98 billion Last Mile Electricity project in Kakamega County.
Speaking in Shinyalu on Tuesday, Ruto insisted that under the programme, about 35,000 households in Kakamega County will have access to electricity for free.
He added that the only money they will part with is their monthly bills, which will be lower compared to using Kerosene.
“Every household will get electricity for free. Whether you live in a mud house or a permanent or iron sheets, you will connect electricity to your house for free. All you will do is pay your monthly bill. It is cheaper compared to using kerosene.
“We are connecting the whole of Kakamega to the grid. We have set aside Sh2.98 billion to connect electricity to about 35,000 households in Kakamega county,” Ruto said.
Kindiki urged Kenyans to rally behind the President as he delivers on his campaign promises.
He noted that by being united and championing the same makes it easier to develop the country.
“We must all support President William Ruto in his desire to unite all Kenyans. We must walk together as a nation. That is the most effective way of bringing development to our people," Kindiki said.
“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,” Kindiki said.
According to the DP, over 700,000 households have been connected to electricity across the country in the last two years, with an additional one million expected in the next two years.
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.
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).
Sh2.4 billion is donor funded while Sh493.83 million was covered by the Government of Kenya, Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
Butere constituency has 2,833 households connected to the grid through the project, 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, Navakholo 3,679 and Shinyalu 2,552.
Through the Last Mile Electricity project, connectivity of Public Primary Schools and Public facilities now stands at 82 per cent nationally.
The launch comes on the second day of the President’s five-day tour of the Western region.
On Monday, Ruto launched the first-ever bonus for sugarcane farmers in Kakamega and later on inspected ongoing government projects.
He took the opportunity to also address Kenyans on various critical issues affecting the country.
He was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, a host of CSs and elected leaders from the region.
