The Government has intensified efforts to ensure all households in Kenya are connected to electricity by 2030, in a bold plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and improving livelihoods across the country.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the national electrification programme has already made significant strides, with 10.3 million households currently connected to power out of a total of 15.6 million households nationwide. He noted that 1.4 million of these connections have been achieved between 2023 and now, reflecting the government’s renewed push to expand access to electricity.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the Kiaumbui Last Mile Electrification Project in Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County, the Deputy President said the government was keen on ensuring that the remaining households are connected within the next four years.
He disclosed that in Kirinyaga County alone, ongoing electrification projects are targeting to connect an additional 7,300 households at a cost of Sh440 million.
The investments, he said, are part of the broader Last Mile Connectivity Programme, which seeks to extend electricity to rural and peri-urban areas that remain underserved.
The Kiaumbui project, valued at Sh10.9 million, is expected to connect small businesses and public institutions to the national grid, a reliable source of power which is expected to enhance productivity and quality of services.
Kindiki emphasized that universal electricity access is a cornerstone of Kenya’s development agenda, terming it a critical enabler in the country’s journey towards industrialization and economic transformation.
“Electricity is no longer a luxury but a basic necessity that drives modern economies. Our goal is to ensure that every Kenyan household has access to reliable and affordable power,” he said.
He added that electrification was a key driver in achieving the Government’s vision of transforming Kenya into a first-world economy noting reliable power supply will spur manufacturing, support agribusiness, and enhance the growth of the digital economy.
The DP was accompanied by Mary Muthoni-Principal Secretary Health and Professional Standards, Gichugu Member of Parliament Mr Githinji Gichimu and his Mwea counterpart Mary Maingi and officials from Kirinyaga County government led by Deputy Governor David Githanda.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
