Kenya Power is set to expand rural electrification by connecting 150,000 customers to the grid under the sixth phase of its Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP).
This expansion, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), will focus on 45 counties across Kenya, excluding Nairobi and Mombasa.
This latest phase marks the third instance of AfDB funding for the LMCP, which has already connected over half a million Kenyans in its initial phases. To facilitate this rollout, Kenya Power has initiated a bidding process for consultancy services.
The company is seeking firms to conduct technical designs, environmental and social performance audits, and oversee procurement and construction activities.
“This funding will substantially support our ongoing national electrification efforts and accelerate the achievement of universal access to electricity,” stated Joseph Siror, Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Power.
The infrastructure development under this sixth phase includes the construction of three new 33/11 kV substations, upgrades to three existing substations, and the construction of seven new switching stations, totaling 13 substation projects.
Additionally, Kenya Power plans to install 211 kilometers of 33kV distribution lines and 14 kilometers of 11kV lines, along with 650 kilometers of medium-voltage and 6,798 kilometers of low-voltage networks.
These upgrades aim to strengthen the grid and extend connections to underserved areas, including social infrastructure like schools, healthcare facilities, and water and sanitation services.
Since its inception in 2015, the LMCP has connected 746,867 customers, primarily in rural areas.
Beyond the AfDB, the project has received funding from various international partners, including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the French Development Agency (AFD), as well as the Government of Kenya and the European Union (EU).
Kenya Power is currently implementing the fourth and fifth phases of the LMCP, which together aim to connect another 291,000 customers.
The utility firm anticipates that this new AfDB funding will significantly accelerate Kenya’s progress towards achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
