Kenya Power, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), has secured a Sh1.85 billion grant to connect approximately 9,121 households in Nakuru, Kilifi, Kwale, and Nyandarua to electricity. This funding marks the commencement of the fifth phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project.
The grant will facilitate the expansion of the project, aiming to connect all targeted households by January 2025. Eng Rosemary Oduor, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Commercial Services and Sales, expressed optimism about achieving these goals within the set timeframe.
This latest phase follows a recent agreement where Kenya Power signed 26 contracts to implement the fourth phase of the project, valued at Sh27 billion. This phase, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), is set to connect 280,000 new customers by November 2025.
Launched in 2013 by the Jubilee government and officially started in 2015, the Last Mile Connectivity Project aims to enhance electricity access by utilizing existing transformers and installing new ones in underserved areas. The first three phases, funded by the Kenyan government, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank, have successfully connected 746,867 households.
The Last Mile Connectivity Project is part of Kenya’s broader effort to increase electricity access, especially in rural areas, and is complemented by the Rural Electrification Scheme established in 1973. These initiatives, despite being economically challenging, have significantly contributed to raising Kenya’s electricity coverage to approximately 76 percent.
With Kenya Power now serving over 9.8 million customers, the country is on track to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, underscoring the importance of continued investments and partnerships in expanding infrastructure.
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