Over 33,500 households in Kakamega county are set to get electricity under the government’s Last Mile connectivity program, which will cost a total of Sh2.1 billion.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy, Alex Wachira who spoke at Sale village in Mautuma location, Lugari Constituency, said the initiative will transform lives and boost businesses across the county hence spurring economic growth.
“Kakamega county alone has been allocated Sh2.1billion. By December this year we expect 33,507 households to have been connected to the national electricity grid.
From the funds, Lugari Constituency has been allocated Sh194 million to connect over 6,000 households,” he said.
Lugari lawmaker Nabii Nabwera lauded the government for the electrification program saying it will transform the socio-economic livelihoods of many of his constituents who have been living in darkness since independence.
He called on the government to ensure that each and every person in the constituency benefits from the electrification program to avert perceptions of marginalization.
“This last mile project the government is undertaking in Lugari Constituency, which comprises of Lugari and Matete Sub Counties, once complete the new connections will be 6,000 plus. This will have been possible courtesy of President William Ruto,” he said.
Nabwera requested the PS for another power line that will ensure his constituents living across the railway line benefit from power connections.
“Connecting households living across the railway line is becoming a big challenge. For instance, last year we had a power connection scheme at Kilulu area, but we could only do it in one side of the railway line and those people felt marginalized.
My special request to you is that you assign us another line that will serve the people of Kilulu, Munyuki and Mapengo,” added Nabwera.
The MP called out the contractor undertaking the Last Mile project at Malaika area saying he has almost spent 13 months doing mobilization, yet the community is eager to utilize the electricity.
Lugari Deputy County Commissioner, Linet Orina, thanked the government for the Last Mile initiative saying it is a plus to the security agencies because dealing with insecurity issues in darkness has been a major challenge.
“With the new power connections security will improve. Women will be able to undertake their small businesses without problems and learners will now be able to study without any challenges.
However, the subcounty is big and many households are still in darkness. My appeal to the Energy Ministry is that it should allocate more funds so that many people can be connected to the national grid in the near future,” he said.
Members of County Assembly present, Pius Balex (Chevaywa), Titus Kwoma (Chekalini) and Niver Oluchiri (Nominated) thanked the government for the electrification project vowing to support President William Rutio’s re-election in 2027.
They said the Constituency has immensely benefitted from the national government projects ranging from the affordable housing initiatives to roads despite the area legislator belonging to the Orange Democratic Movement party.
Beneficiaries of the electrification project from Sale area (Mautuma location), Malaika area (Marakusi location) and Mbajo area (Chekalini location) lauded the area Member of Parliament and the national government for the initiative saying they have been living in darkness since independence, despite having been served by a number of elected leaders.
Herman Musule from Malaika area said the electrification will transform the area as the locals will now be able to engage in income generating activities and the security will also improve.
Wycliffe Soita, a youth from Malaika area said the youths across the Constituency now have a great opportunity to self-employ themselves.
“The youths have been complaining all along that they have no employment. However, now we have electricity closer to us we can venture into income generating activities. We can open businesses like barber shops, welding and many others hence engaging in beneficial activities,” he said.
by Melechezedeck Ejakait
