Kakamega: More than 40,000 households in Kakamega County are set to be connected to the national electricity grid under the Government’s Last Mile Connectivity Programme (LMCP), Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said.
According to Kenya News Agency, Opiyo Wandayi announced the initiative over the weekend during the commissioning of the Kenya Power-funded Imanyika Last Mile Connectivity Project in Imanyika Village, West Marama Ward, Butere Sub-county. Wandayi highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring every Kenyan has access to affordable and reliable electricity to support socio-economic transformation.
The Cabinet Secretary, alongside Butere MP Tindi Mwale, also initiated the construction phase for the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC)-funded Ebuhamwa-Emukhaye Last Mile Connectivity Project. Wandayi emphasized that the Last Mile Connectivity Programme is significantly impacting lives by making electricity more accessible. These efforts are in line with President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, aiming to expand access to electricity within Kakamega County, targeting over 40,000 household connections.
Wandayi further explained that increased electricity connectivity is expected to drive economic growth by facilitating the establishment and expansion of small businesses, enhancing learning environments in schools, improving healthcare services, and creating job opportunities for young people. The projects are being executed through a collaboration involving the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya Power, and REREC to speed up rural electrification and narrow the energy access gap in underserved communities.
Residents were encouraged by Wandayi to leverage the expanded electricity network to invest in productive ventures that could boost household incomes and bolster local economies. The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the Government’s dedication to completing ongoing electrification projects nationwide, stating that access to electricity is crucial for achieving inclusive development and enhancing the quality of life for all Kenyans.
Wandayi also mentioned that continued investment in power infrastructure is instrumental in opening up rural areas to new economic opportunities while supporting the country’s long-term development objectives.
