The Government of Kenya has secured significant funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support the third phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP), which aims to connect thousands of households and businesses to the national electricity grid.
Kenya Power, the country’s primary electricity distributor, confirmed that the new grant will help provide electricity access to over 150,001 new connections.
These will include households, public institutions such as schools and health centers, and small to medium-sized businesses across 45 counties nationwide.
Joseph Siror, the Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Power, expressed optimism about the impact of the funding. “The Government of Kenya has secured financing from the African Development Bank to support the sixth phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project.
This support will significantly boost the ongoing national efforts to expand electricity access and fast-track the goal of achieving universal electrification by 2030,” he stated.
This fresh round of funding comes just days after President William Ruto held a meeting with AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina on March 17.
The first two phases of the LMCP had already connected 536,077 customers to the grid, demonstrating the government’s commitment to increasing electricity coverage across the country.
Beyond connecting new customers, the AfDB funds will also be used to upgrade aging infrastructure.
The project includes extending the electricity grid and making necessary system reinforcements. These improvements are essential to address the funding gap currently affecting the country’s power distribution systems.
Part of the project involves building and upgrading key infrastructure, including:
- Construction of three new 33/11 KV substations
- Refurbishment and upgrading of three existing 33/11 KV substations
- Construction of seven new 33 KV switching stations
Additionally, the plan includes the construction of 211 kilometers of 33 KV distribution lines and 14 kilometers of 11 KV lines.
These new lines will help strengthen the electrical network that powers critical social services, such as schools, hospitals, water supply systems, and sanitation facilities.
Since the launch of the Last Mile Connectivity Project in 2015, Kenya Power has successfully connected 746,867 customers to the national electricity grid.
At present, the company is working on the fourth and fifth phases of the LMCP, which aim to connect an additional 280,000 and 11,000 customers, respectively.
Apart from the African Development Bank, several other international lenders have also played a role in financing the LMCP. These include:
- The World Bank
- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- The French Development Agency (AFD)
- The European Union (EU)
- The European Investment Bank (EIB)
In May last year, Kenya received a Ksh4.3 billion grant from the World Bank to further support the LMCP.
This funding came after discussions between Kenya, the World Bank, and the European Union, and the topic was later brought up during President Ruto’s visit to the United States.
With this continued international support, the government remains confident that it can reach its goal of ensuring every Kenyan has access to reliable electricity in the near future.
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