Gov’t injects Ksh 5B to Last Mile Connectivity project

The government has injected over Ksh 5 billion into the next phase of the power connectivity project  that aims at enhancing rural electrification.

On November 8, 2016, Kenya Power received pledges of over Ksh 30.5 billion from various development partners to be utilised in the expansion of off-grid electricity in rural areas.

Speaking during the launch of the Last Mile Connectivity in Molo Constituency on Friday, December 2, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Charles Keter, said that the national government would pump five billion shillings to the next phase of the project.

Keter elaborated that the finances from the government will facilitate the connection of town centres within Molo constituency and the neighboring major towns to the national grid.

“When the Jubilee government came to power, only 2.1 million Kenyans were connected to electricity. So afr, 5.3 million Kenyans have been connected to power,” noted Keter.

Keter assured Kenyans that before June 2017, over 6.2 million Kenyans homesteads and bussinesses will be connected to electricity.

“The Jubillee government is committed to ensure that each household has electric supply before the year 2020.”

Accompanied by area Member of Parliament, Jacob Macharia, and his Kuresoi North counterpart, Moses Cheboi, Keter urged Kenyans living in towns to put up businesses that will tap more finance from the electrification process.

Written by Lucy Akinyi