Sh434m projects to connect Murang'a residents to electricity

Over 6,000 Murang’a residents are set to be connected to electricity in an ambitious drive by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation.

The corporation is in the process of implementing 87 projects, which are in various stages of completion, and which will cost Sh434 million.

Rerec's director Mark Nderitu reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring all homes are covered, noting that electricity acts as a catalyst to socio-economic activities that drastically transform the economy of an area.

He said this during the commissioning of Rugongo Ruraya power project in Kigumo constituency that will cover 270 households in the first phase and over 515 homes when it is completed.

Nderitu said residents had complained they suffered losses at tea buying centres since without power, it was difficult to sell their produce after dark as is common in tea zones.

“These farmers were unable to sell their produce in time and would lose kilograms but with power, they can sell their tea any time. Installation of electricity has transformed their lives,” he said.

Residents will now be able to make use of technology and fit their homes with appliances that will make their lives easier, and children will no longer depend on kerosene lamps to do their homework.

Nderitu however challenged development partners such as NGCDF and county governments to consider supporting electrification programmes to accelerate rural connectivity in priority areas.

The director said over 14,500 households are set to be lit up in nine counties in the Mt Kenya region. These include Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Marsabit.

Rerec is implementing projects worth Sh2.1 billion in the region, in a concerted effort to boost the national power coverage.

“We’re happy to see lives being transformed through installation of power and even facilitating education that the President always says is an equaliser. We’re grateful that the government has been funding us well enough to cascade the impact down to Kenyans,” he said.

Nderitu added that a police unit has been set up to stem vandalism of power infrastructure that has been rampant in most parts of the country.

He said vandals have been a major setback to the government’s bid to improve power connectivity in the last few years.

“Sometimes, we launch a project and in a week, vandals come in and steal the cables and poles. We’re also asking members of the public to guard the infrastructure as their own assets because they suffer the most when it is vandalised”.

Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro asked Rerec to ensure individual homes are fitted with metres, saying the process takes too long when done by Kenya Power and Lighting company. 

The MP said electricity is pivotal in the growth of the economy and positively affects schools’ academic performance.

“We have done a survey of all the areas that are yet to be conducted and our plan is to ensure they are all covered by 2027,” he said.

Moses Mugane, a 71-year-old resident of Rugongo Ruraya said the village had been stuck development-wise due to lack of power, as other areas advanced.

So desperate were the villagers to connect their homes that about a decade ago, they formed a group that sought help from KPLC and ended up contributing Sh35,000 per home.

But their dream did not materialise and only through the help of MP Munyoro was power eventually installed.

“We longed to use farm equipment like chaff cutters in our farms but could not. Now, we will be able to do modern farming and make more money. We will also not use lamps anymore,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by 45-year-old Ruth Wanjiru. The mother of three said connectivity could end up strengthening their marriages as men will no longer need to go to shopping centres to watch news.

“We’ve been travelling all the way to Kangari town to get our hair done and charge our mobile phones. Our children will also be able to do their homework with ease,” Wanjiru said.