The Kenyan government has set a bold target of connecting at least nine out of ten homes to electricity by the year 2030.
Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary Alex Wachira recently outlined a plan to connect 566,000 homes to the grid in the coming years, with an estimated cost of Ksh42 billion (around $327 million).
The government intends to allocate a yearly budget to ensure 90% to 95% of all homes have power by the target date.
Kenya’s Electricity Access Surpasses Regional Average
As of June 2022, Kenya has made significant progress in electrification, with 77% of the population having access to grid electricity.
This is notably higher than the estimated 50% average across sub-Saharan Africa. The International Trade Administration reports urban areas boasting a 100% access rate, while rural Kenya stands at 65%.
New Electrification Projects in Mbeere North
In Mbeere North, authorities have commissioned four new electrification projects to connect 600 households and institutions in Cianthia, Karerema, Cieria, and Kanyaga/Gitiburi to the national grid.
Mark Nderitu, a board director at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), expects crews to complete these projects within a month.
Prioritizing First-Time Connections: The Last Mile Connectivity Project
Nationwide, 322 projects are slated for implementation this year under the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP). The LMCP focuses on bringing electricity to areas that have never been connected before.
Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku highlighted the constituency’s efforts to map out 684 villages needing initial connections through approximately 300 transformers.
Electrification as a Catalyst for Development
Beyond providing power to homes, the electrification projects will stimulate further development.
MP Ruku indicated that the Mbeere North region will follow electrification with the installation of fiber optic cable to support three proposed ICT hubs, highlighting the interconnectedness of infrastructure and technology.
Securing Funding for Expanded Connectivity
In May, the government announced securing $205.3 million in funding for the fourth stage of the LMCP, with the goal of connecting over 280,000 more households to electricity.
President William Ruto emphasized that this funding reinforces the nation’s ambitious plan for universal electricity access by 2030.
International Support for Kenya’s Electrification Efforts
The European Union, French Development Agency, and European Investment Bank have all contributed to the funding for the LMCP’s fourth stage.
Additionally, the African Development Bank Group approved a significant loan in November 2023 to support the third phase, which aims to connect nearly 1.6 million people to the grid and strengthen the electricity network infrastructure.