Residents of Wajir East hope the Last Mile Connectivity Programme and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) will end persistent outages, disrupting businesses, schools and households.
The projects, launched by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi in Kisumu Ndogo, Wajir town, is expected to connect several suburbs, villages and settlements within a four-mile radius of the town to electricity as part of the government’s broader efforts to improve power access in the region.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi speaks in Wajir town /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
For many residents, the launch marks a turning point after years of enduring unreliable electricity supply that often plunged homes and businesses into darkness, sparking public anger, demonstrations and protests.
Residents who spoke to the Star painted a situation where lack of a stable power supply had badly affected them, disrupting their lives and businesses.
Mohamed Hussein, 60, a resident of Kisumu Ndogo who attended the event, said the project would help improve security, support small businesses and enhance access to essential services.
“This is the place that I have called home for 30 years. This village has grown under my watch. However, we have had to endure a lot of suffering because we don’t have power,” he said.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi (second right), Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi (centre) and other leaders at the Wajir main power station /STEPHEN ASTARIKO“But we now have every reason to be happy following the launch of this project. I am personally excited.”
Ambia Hussein, another resident who owns a shop, said that businesses were closing early and incurring losses because they had to invest in generators, noting that fuelling them was proving expensive, considering she is a small-scale trader.
“This programme gives us hope that things are finally changing. Stable electricity would greatly improve living standards and create opportunities for young people through business expansion and digital access,” she said.
Speaking during the launch, Wandayi said the government had set aside a combined Sh7.7 billion in the last and current financial years to support various energy projects in Wajir County.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during the event in Wajir town /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
The funds will facilitate implementation of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, support the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project and fund the hybrid power project under the French Development Bank.
“Wajir county has, for many years, been plunged into darkness as a result of persistent blackouts.
“It is for this reason that President William Ruto’s administration has decided to tackle the problem and come up with a lasting solution once and for all. I am sure the face of this great county will be transformed in the fullness of time,” the CS said.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi praised the national government and the Ministry of Energy for interventions that have significantly stabilised the electricity supply in the area.
“I want to thank you for finding time to be with us here to launch this electrification programme and last-mile connectivity programme for many suburbs, villages and the four-mile radius of Wajir town,” the governor.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, during the commissioning of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation in Kisumu Ndogo, Wajir East subcounty /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Abdullahi recalled the frustration residents previously endured due to frequent blackouts, saying the situation had at one point escalated into protests and threats to torch the Kenya Power station in Wajir town.
“There was a time when residents were attempting to burn down the [Kenya Power] station because of blackouts. We are now past that and we thank your office and your teams from Rerec and [Kenya Power] for the interventions that brought stability to the electricity supply in this town,” he added.
Residents of Kisumu Ndogo in Wajir East subcounty during the commissioning of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Despite the improvements, the governor said Wajir remains among the fastest-growing towns in the country and called for expansion of electricity infrastructure to match rising demand.
“There is a need to expand the supply. We know there is the hybridisation programme, but more importantly, it is time that county headquarters and towns in this region get connected to the national grid to open up opportunities for industrialisation.”
Residents now say they are hopeful the new projects will usher in reliable electricity, improved business operations and long-term economic growth for the county.
