Energy CS Charles Keter (centre) and Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut (second
left) at Lotonyok village in Uasin Gishu during the launch of the
second phase of the Last Mile electricity project on April 26, 2018.
PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The government has rolled out the second phase of the Sh15 billion Last Mile electricity project that will see more than 2.5 million households connected to the national grid.
Energy
Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said that the second phase will include
the installation of new transformers and extension of low-voltage
network.
“Schools will also be included in [the]
programme. We call on Kenyans to be patient as these works are carried
out progressively for the next three years. We will not exclude anybody.
Even squatters will benefit from the programme as long as they are not
occupying people’s land,” said Mr Keter.
Speaking on
Thursday during the launch of the programme in Uasin Gishu County at
Lotonyok Primary School, Mr Keter urged residents to take advantage of
the power to engage in business.
He said that the Uasin Gishu County project will cost Sh1 billion with Ainabkoi Constituency getting Sh700 million.
The
first phase of the project which was implemented in 2014 benefitted
more than 300,000 households, increasing the number added to the
electricity grid to 1.5 million households.
COST
To benefit from the project, residents are required to pay Sh15, 000.
The
Last Mile project is co-financed by the national government and the
African Development Bank (AfDB) with the bank coughing up Sh13.5 billion
of the Sh15 billion initiative.
The project involves the extension of low-voltage network to reach households located within 600m of a transformer.
“Full
implementation of the Last Mile connectivity project will facilitate
government objective of connecting 70 percent Kenyan households with
electricity,” said Mr Keter.
In
addition, Mr Keter said the Rural Electrification Authority will also
connect potential customers near installed transformers at the same cost
of Sh15, 000.
POWER BILLS
Mr
Keter who was accompanied by area MP William Chepkut also defended high
power bills, saying price spike was caused by drought which led to low
water levels at Masinga Dam.
“The situation has since improved. We are meeting on Friday in a bid to lower domestic power tariffs,” said Mr Keter.
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