Rural electrification funds disbursed

A total of Sh3.5 billion has been allocated to constituencies countrywide for rural electrification projects.

The cash has been distributed using the same criteria applied in the disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund.

However, Starehe and Mvita constituencies have missed out in the rural electrification funds after being ranked the richest electoral areas in Kenya according to the poverty index released on Monday.

Bahari and Eldoret North will each get Sh23 million, the highest among the 210 constituencies’ funds meant to improve electricity supply in rural areas.

According to the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), constituencies in Rift Valley Province will receive the lion’s share of the fund with slightly over Sh858 million followed by those in Eastern Province, which will be allocated a total of Sh656 million. Nairobi Province which is over 90 per cent connected to electricity, gets Sh35 million.

Others are Nyanza Province Sh604 million, Central Province Sh461 million, Western Province Sh457 million Coast Sh331 million while North Eastern Province gets Sh181 million.

The CDF-like distribution formula means that constituencies which received the highest CDF allocation will also be the main beneficiaries of the new fund.

In the REA list released on Monday, Makadara, Lang’ata, Kamukunji, Dagoretti, Westlands, Kasarani and Embakasi all in Nairobi that will each get Sh5 million.

Other top earners are Coast’s Kaloleni, Western’s Lurambi, Kimilili and Eastern’s Makueni (Sh23 million each) and Nyanza’s North Mugirango/Borabu (Sh22 million).

It is estimated that more than half of the country’s population lack access to electricity.

Other statistics indicate that only 10 per cent of rural population is connected to power despite the rural electrification programme starting in 1973.

At the same time, only 40 per cent of public institutions such as secondary schools and health institutions have electricity.

The Rural Electrification Authority was formed to spearhead the supply of power to rural areas.

The task was previously undertaken by power distributor Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

The government plans to connect over one million new consumers to the power grid.

Among public institutions set to benefit from the programme are schools, health institutions, coffee and tea factories.

At the launch of REA last month, chief executive officer Zachary Ayieko said that the authority would enable people living in rural areas to benefit from power that will spur development in these areas.

He said; “we seek to connect all public facilities by 2012 at a cost of Sh50 billion and provide electricity to every Kenyan by 2030 under our strategic plan.

Achieving the country’s long-term development blueprint famously referred to as Vision 2030 is pegged on most if not all Kenyans accessing power.