Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta said about 1.2 million Kenyans were added to the national grid. In his State of The Nation Address, he said it was possible by adding new capacities. “This has enabled us to connect many more Kenyans to the national grid. In the last 12 months, we have connected an additional 1.2 million Kenyans to electricity in their homes and places of work,” he said.

According to governmental sources, 634 MW were added to the grid, raising the national capacity to 2,282 MW. More than 10,000 km of transmission and distribution lines were laid, connecting parts of the country for the first time to the grid.

Moreover, a public electrification initiative will also allow adding 26,000 street lamps in 5 counties, at mid-year 2016. It should expand to 50 other towns across the country.

In 2013, government said the Last Mile Electricity Project which aims to provide electricity 80% of the Kenyan population. The initiative which costs $132 million was financed by government and African Development Bank (AfDB).

Gwladys Johnson