How electricity is giving Kakamega farmers hope beyond sugarcane

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For decades, fields of sugarcane have entirely defined the economic landscape of Ihanya Village in Malava Constituency.

However, a strict reliance on the crop often left local families vulnerable to long cane-maturation cycles and erratic payout seasons.

That economic monoculture is now shifting, thanks to a recent grid-connection drive by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), a fresh wave of commercial optimism is sweeping across the area.

With 95 homes lit up in the first phase, local micro-entrepreneurs are moving quickly to diversify the local economy.

The availability of stable power is triggering immediate interest in setting up welding hubs, refrigeration services, and salons at the local shopping centres.

Peter Adanje, a resident of Ikhanyi village who has six children, views the project as a critical lifeline for the village's youth.

According to Adanje, his children have faced prolonged unemployment after completing their studies.

“The grid connection offers a viable platform for them to venture into self-employment and build independent livelihoods,” he says.

The social impact of the project is equally visible in local schools.

Simon Mukuchu, a Form Three student at Mugai Secondary School, noted that access to reliable evening light will eliminate dependencies on dim tin lamps, allowing him to extend his study hours and better prepare for national examinations.

The localised project ties into a massive Sh2.46 billion county-wide electrification masterplan.

During a project appraisal in Malava, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi explained that the national government aims to connect more than 40,000 households across Kakamega County.

Wandayi noted that the aggressive rollout fulfills President William Ruto’s commitment to regional equity in development.

The Cabinet Secretary also lauded area MP David Athman Ndakwa for working around the clock to deliver development results for his constituents, despite having served for only seven months in Parliament.

As power lines now crisscross Ikhanyi, the local community is being urged to move away from passive observation.

The infrastructure is ready, and the onus is now on the residents to utilise the power supply to transform their households and participate actively in nation-building.