Remarks · 27 May 2024
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon 1. This event is an immense milestone on Kenya’s journey towards achieving universal access to electricity in order to align our infrastructure development with our broader aspiration for a brighter, more prosperous future for our people.
In the beginning, this vision was not just seen as bold and ambitious, it was also considered to be too audacious to be impossible. But it has become possible due to a resolute commitment to deliver consistent investment of resources and determination to ensure that every Kenyan household, regardless of location, enjoys reliable and affordable power.
As a consequence, we have achieved steady and impressive progress over the past decade. We have witnessed significant progress in our journey towards universal electrification, raising the national access rate from just 27% in 2013 to well over 75% currently. This means that 9.6 million Kenyan households are connected to electric power.
The Last Mile Connectivity Project has been a transformative initiative, whose ambition complements the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. By extending the electricity grid to rural and underserved areas, the Last Mile Connectivity Project is not only effectively bridging the development gap between urban and rural communities, but it has also effectively raised the overall rate of national productivity across sectors by facilitating the uptake of efficient technologies.
Today, I am presiding over a contract signing ceremony to unlock €180 million (KSh27 billion), thereby launching a drive to connect an additional 280,000 households in 32 counties.
This phase of the project has been made possible because of our commitment of KSh2.5 billion, complemented with counterpart funding from the French Development Agency (FDA), the European Union and the European Investment Bank (EIB). I wish to express profound appreciation to our development partners for their consistent support throughout the course of this initiative and, in particular, to the FDA, EU and EIB for their support of this part of our plan.
We are firmly on course to achieving 100% connectivity by 2030. As I speak, we are working on a similar connectivity programme worth KSh22 billion in partnership with the AfD and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to connect more than 270,000 customers.
By standing with us in this initiative, our development partners have made an indelible contribution to Kenya's economic transformation and inclusivity. Thank you very much.
Power connectivity is a vital priority because electricity is the lifeblood of modern economies. The Last Mile Connectivity Project has enabled businesses in rural areas to flourish, contributing significantly to our GDP and creating numerous job opportunities. It has also revolutionised our agricultural sector, powering irrigation systems and agro-processing units, thereby boosting productivity and ensuring food security.
By connecting millions of households to the power grid, we have not only illuminated homes but also empowered communities, enhanced educational opportunities, improved healthcare services and turned the entire country into one flourishing economic hub. Universal access is therefore fundamental to achieving economic inclusivity.
The Last Mile Connectivity Project is also good news for the Hustler Economy. The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, which is the engine of our economy, benefits immensely from reliable power, enabling them to operate efficiently and expanding their reach.
Reliable electricity supply is a crucial enabler which complements our other commitments of supporting small businesses, including initiatives such as the Hustler Fund. Thank you, God bless you, God bless Kenya.