This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Kenya Power Expands Electricity Access to More Kenyans ¶
November 11th, 2017, marked a significant milestone for Kenya Power as the company embarked on the second phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project. This ambitious project, jointly funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank at a cost of $300 million (Sh31.08 billion), aims to increase electricity access to 1.5 million new households.
By June 2017, 6.18 million households were already connected, representing about 70 percent of the country's connectivity access rate. The project's success has been a testament to Kenya Power's commitment to expanding electricity access to more Kenyans.
Kenya Power's CEO, Ken Tarus, emphasized the importance of the project, stating, "We will continue to grow our customer base and venture into new frontiers. The connectivity drive is aimed at increasing revenue to sustain our business and promote socio-economic development."
As part of the project, Kenya Power signed 23 contracts for the rural and informal settlement electrification initiative, a Vision 2030 flagship project. The company's focus on utilizing local resources, including materials and labor, is a welcome development, with Tarus appealing to contractors to maximize the use of local resources.
"We want to encourage the contractors, both local and foreign, to utilize readily available materials in the country," Tarus said. "I want to see as much of this Sh30 billion remain within the borders of this country."
