More than 16,000 households in Kitui are set to be connected to electricity under the last mile connectivity project as the county prepares to host this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Ithookwe Primary School in Kitui Central, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira said the county has been allocated about Ksh2.2 billion to connect over 16,463 households to the national grid through last mile projects spread across all 11 sub-counties.
“Our goal is to achieve 100 percent electricity access by 2030 and promote clean cooking to save our environment and reduce non-communicable diseases,” said Wachira.
He added that the ministry is distributing clean cooking jikos and LPG gas at Kitui Teachers Training College to encourage the shift from wood fuel to cleaner alternatives.
The PS said the government is also working to complete the Kitui-Wote and Mwingi-Kitui-Wote transmission lines to ensure a stable power supply in the region.
Wachira noted that Kenya continues to lead the region in reliable and stable electricity, adding that power demand has risen from 2,149 megawatts in 2022 to about 2,392 megawatts this year due to industrial expansion.
Meanwhile, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rose Mkalama said the agency is implementing several last mile projects across Kitui as part of the 2025 Mashujaa Energy Week.
“REREC is present in all eight constituencies in Kitui, where we have invested about Ksh2.3 billion to ensure every household has access to electricity,” said Mkalama.
She said the agency has installed high mast lights in markets to boost business operations and is expanding the Matching Fund Programme jointly run with county governments and NG-CDF.
“So far, we have partnered with 22 counties and are working to sign MoUs with all 47 to accelerate rural electrification across the country,” she said.
