Kenya Power has secured a KES 1.85 billion grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to expand its Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP), aiming to connect over 9,000 households to the national grid by early 2025.
The funding, announced on Monday, will support Phase V of the LMCP, targeting four counties: Nakuru, Kilifi, Kwale, and Nyandarua. This latest initiative builds on Kenya’s ongoing efforts to achieve universal access to electricity, with the current connection rate standing at 76% of households nationwide.
Eng. Rosemary Oduor, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Commercial Services and Sales, stated: “We expect to connect all the targeted households across the four counties by January 2025. The Company is committed to fast-tracking electricity connection across the country to achieve universal access to electricity.”
The JICA grant follows closely on the heels of Kenya Power’s recent signing of 26 contracts for Phase IV of the LMCP. This KES 27 billion phase, funded by a consortium including the French Development Agency, the European Union, and the European Investment Bank, aims to connect 280,000 new customers by November 2025.
Since its inception in 2015, the LMCP has played a crucial role in expanding Kenya’s electricity access. The project has received total funding of KES 73.1 billion to date, contributing significantly to the country’s electrification efforts. Under the first three phases, 746,867 households were connected at a cost of KES 51.1 billion.
The LMCP’s strategy involves maximising the efficiency of existing distribution transformers by connecting households within a 600-metre radius, as well as installing new transformers to serve more distant areas. This approach has proven effective in rapidly expanding the country’s electricity network.
Kenya Power, the country’s sole electricity off-taker, has extended its transmission and distribution network to cover over 306,000 kilometres. As of May 2024, the company reported more than 9.62 million customer accounts.
The latest JICA grant is expected to further accelerate Kenya’s progress towards its goal of universal electricity access, a key factor in the country’s socio-economic development plans. As rural electrification expands, it is anticipated to bring significant changes to communities, potentially boosting local economies and improving quality of life for residents in previously unconnected areas.
