Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif has said his administration is engaging the national government and Kenya Power to connect
the border county to the national grid.
He said discussions are ongoing to also explore linkage to Ethiopia’s grid for proximity and
reliability.
The
county relies on off-grid and diesel-powered generators, which are expensive
and unreliable.
Speaking in Mandera town, Khalif said energy drives development and
equity, disclosing that the county continues to pursue reliable, affordable and
renewable power to unlock economic growth.
Electricity in Mandera is significantly more expensive compared to grid-connected areas, an issue leaders and residents have time and again complained about.
Khalif urged the national
government to intervene and have the challenge addressed to
open up the region’s full potential.
Only a small portion of urban areas such as Mandera Town have access to electricity. Rural areas and towns remain
mostly unelectrified.
“We all know that diesel-generated
electricity costs are passed on to consumers, burdening households and
businesses. As leaders, we will continue engaging the national government so that we are also connected to the national grid,” said Khalif.
The challenges notwithstanding, the county has expanded renewable energy through solar hybrid systems, improved power infrastructure and installed more than 400 solar streetlights.
Khalif said reliable energy is important to achieve universal healthcare.
He said his administration has upgraded
the Mandera County Teaching and Referral Hospital to Level 5 status, equipped
new renal and surgical units and expanded medical facilities in Kutulo, Elwak,
Lafey, and Rhamu.
Mohamed Hussein, a local businessman, expressed his concerns over the longstanding lack of connection to the national electricity grid, which he says continues to severely hamper the growth of businesses.
“For years, our enterprises —
ranging from small-scale traders to large commercial ventures — have operated
under extremely challenging conditions due to unreliable, expensive and often
inaccessible electricity," he said.
Hussein said lack of
stable power supply has contributed to economic marginalisation, restricted
digital and industrial innovation and affected delivery of essential
services such as healthcare and education, which also rely on stable power.
This
year’s Mashujaa theme was: “Transforming Lives through Sustainable Energy
Solutions,”.
During his speech, President William Ruto underscored the importance of stable energy, saying the country cannot industrialise without reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.
