State still on course to provide electricity to all, CS Keter says
Purity Wairimu, on July 29, 2016, shows Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter (in a blue shirt) the lamp she was using before she was connected to electricity. Mr Keter said 56 per cent of Kenyans had been connected to electricity up from 27 per cent in 2013. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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- He added that they are focused to raise connectivity to 70 per cent by next year, saying that power was a basic right.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has said the government has dedicated a lot of money in the Last Mile Connectivity project in order to attain universal electricity connectivity by 2020.
He explained that the undertaking forms part of the State's Energy Access Scale-Up Programme.
While touring Murang’a County on Saturday to inspect the project's progress, Mr Keter said 56 per cent of Kenyans had been connected to electricity up from 27 per cent in 2013.
He added that they are focused to raise connectivity to 70 per cent by next year, saying that power was a basic right.
"The government is dedicated to develop the country hence the need to connect all Kenyans to the grid," Mr Keter said.
The CS said the programme is designed to benefit low-income rural communities, which have the lowest electricity penetration rate in the country.
Accompanied by Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau and Kieni MP Kanini Kega, he asked locals to vote back President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He hailed Mr Kenyatta as a hardworking man saying he had done a lot in three years, thus deserved another term to continue developing the country.
Ms Nancy Wanjiru, a beneficiary, said she and her husband had never thought of having electricity in their house.
"I have been using a kerosene lamp and I have suffered a lot because of [the] smoke [it emits]. Our meagre income could not allow us to have electricity," she said.
Ms Wanjiru said she would embark on saving to buy a television set.
Editing by Philip Momanyi
