The government has set aside Sh6.83 billion to expand electricity access to 93,000 households in four counties in western Kenya.

The investment will finance 966 rural electrification projects to be implemented jointly by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) and Kenya Power.

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REREC Chief Executive Officer Dr Rose Mkalama announced the investment during a ceremony at Lugulu village in Butula Constituency, Busia County.

The event was attended by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and several senior government officials.

Mkalama said Busia County will receive Sh1.45 billion from the wider investment.

The funds will finance 241 projects across the county's seven constituencies and are expected to extend electricity access to about 17,000 households in rural communities.

At Lugulu, Koskei commissioned one of the projects, which has already connected 200 households to electricity.

The project is part of government efforts to expand electricity access in areas that have traditionally recorded lower connectivity levels.

Koskei said the electrification programme was among government initiatives that should be considered when assessing its performance.

He made the remarks while addressing Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah during a thanksgiving ceremony for National Land Commission Commissioner Susan Oyatsi.

Koskei also called on opposition leaders to offer what he described as sincere criticism of government policies and decisions.

He urged leaders who disagree with government decisions to consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms before resorting to court action.

The Head of Public Service argued that litigation can be time-consuming and costly for the government.

He said some disagreements could instead be resolved through dialogue and discussions between the parties involved.

Omtatah, who attended the ceremony, avoided a confrontational political approach and instead praised Oyatsi for her public service record.

The senator described her as a forthright leader who had brought honour to Busia County.

Oyatsi has a long public-sector career. The National Land Commission says she previously served as Director of Finance in the Judiciary and later as a finance adviser to the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service in the Executive Office of the President.

She was appointed an NLC commissioner in March 2026 alongside six other commissioners. The new commissioners were sworn in at the Supreme Court in a ceremony officiated by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

The Lugulu event brought together two government priorities—expanding infrastructure and electricity access in rural communities and promoting dialogue in resolving disagreements between political leaders and the government.

The ceremony was also attended by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, among other officials.