Rural electrification project targets 600 public facilities, 35,460 households
A Kenya Power and Lighting Company truck ferrying poles for rural electrification.
Nearly 600 public facilities and 35,460 households across the country are set to access electricity following the launch of Electrification for Public Facilities Project.
The project spearheaded by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) is divided into five beneficiary lot regions and is jointly financed by the government of Kenya and Arab Development Partner at a total cost of Sh6.4 billion.
During the launch in Tana River County last week, Rerec said a total of 103 projects will be implemented in Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River counties in the Upper Eastern and Coast Region also known as Lot Three.
The other lots are Nyanza and Western Region (Lot 1), North Rift Region (Lot 2), South Rift Region (Lot 3), and Central and Upper Eastern (Lot 4).
As a result, construction of 500km of medium voltage distribution lines will be set up, meaning households in close proximity to transformers and meeting all installation requirements will have access to electricity.
Spur economic growth
Rerec Chief Executive Peter Mbugua noted that the corporation is committed to implementing its electrification projects, and extending power to households and public facilities in rural areas. This is expected to spur economic growth and increase social-economic development in the upcountry.
Mr Mbugua added that upon completion of the project, at least 200 public facilities and over 7,000 households will have access to electricity. Community members in these areas will see the ripple effect of electrification through improved education, security, health, employment, living standards by locals and increased economic activities in trading centres.
Other regional projects (Lot 1-4) are also underway and shall include the construction of 2,850 km of electricity distribution lines and installation of transformers. The project envisages to electrify 1,200 public facilities which include market centres, health centres, educational institutions, tea buying centres, coffee factories and administration Centres.
On completion, the project will ensure the electrification of 35,460 households in 131constituencies located in 36 Counties in Nyanza and Western, North Rift, South Rift, Central and Upper Eastern, Lower Eastern and Coast region. It is estimated that in each of the five project areas over 7,000 households will be connected to electricity.
The financiers of the project include Arab Bank for Economic Development, OPEC Fund for Development, Abu Dhabi for Development, and Saudi Fund for Development.
