A Muranga legislator has proposed the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) be allowed to install electricity metres. Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro made the proposal saying the agency should be facilitated to install the electric metres, following the prolonged delay by Kenya Power.
Mr Munyoro said there are many homes connected with electricity but cannot use it due to the long process in the acquisition and the installation of metres. He spoke in Rugongo Ruraya village in his constituency where REREC Director Mark Mwaura toured the village in the launch of an electricity connection programme.
In Murang’a, the agency will spend Sh434 million to connect more than 6,000 houses with electricity after years of wait.
“Electricity is pivotal in the growth of the economy and positively affects schools’ academic performance. A survey revealed that there are hundreds of customers yet to be covered in Kigumo and I will ensure in three years they will be connected with the national grid,” he said.
A resident, Moses Mugane,71, said development in the village had stagnated due to lack of electricity. He recounted how many homes in the village had paid Sh35,000 each to Kenya Power for connection but had been ignored in the past 10 years.
“We only got our electricity connections after the constituency office made a follow up with the relevant offices at Kenya Power,” said Mugane.
REREC’s Director Mark Nderitu who accompanied Munyoro during the launch of the electricity programme in Kinyona ward, assured the public that the government is committed to connect homes with electricity.
Rugongo Ruraya village in Kigumo is among the villages in Murang’a that will be connected with electricity. In Kigumo sub county, the last mile programme is designed to connect 270 households in the first phase and the remaining 245 in the next phase.
“The development partners including NG-CDF and county governments should support the electrification programmes to accelerate rural electrification programmes,” said Nderitu.
In Mt Kenya region, including Isiolo and Marsabit, he explained that over 14,500 households will be connected with electricity at a cost of Sh2.1 billion. “In the nine counties of Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Marsabit there is an ambitious electrification programme to ensure all the households are connected with electricity,” he said.
