Govt to connect power to all primary schools by next year

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, (left) and his Principal secretary Eng Joseph Njoroge in this file photo. Mr Njoroge confirmed the delay but noted that alternative plans had been put in place. Photo/JOSEPH KANYI

All primary schools will be connected to the national electricity grid by the end of the next financial year, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has disclosed.

In his presentation at the Cabinet and Principal Secretaries’ retreat in Nanyuki Thursday, the Energy Cabinet Secretary said a number of schools had already been linked to the grid, and that the remaining 6,000 schools would be connected under the ongoing project.

He was responding to concerns raised, especially regarding the Laptop project.

Mr Chirchir said that his ministry’s flagship projects were on course and would be achieved within the set time frames.

He said the ministry expected to meet the 5,000 MW target within five years.

In reply to concerns raised about the expected effect on the environment and water, he pointed out that 61 per cent of the new energy would be supplied from renewable sources.

Mr Chirchir confirmed that the new energy would lower the price per kilowatt hour to about Sh6. He projected that within five years, the power projects would bring the number of Kenyans with electricity from 30 per cent to between 75 and 80 per cent.

The Energy Cabinet Secretary said he expected the Lamu to Lokichar crude oil pipeline project to be ready by 2016.