Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi flags off electrification materials during the launch of the Transformer Maximisation Programme at Lwala Rabuor Primary School in Nyatike./HANDOUT
At least 2,500 households in Nyatike Constituency, Migori County, are set to benefit from a 340 million shilling investment aimed at expanding electricity access.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi announced the allocation during the launch of the Transformer Maximisation Programme at Lwala Rabuor Primary School in Nyatike.
The project forms part of a wider 2.3 billion shilling national government allocation for electrification, which will be implemented through the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, REREC.
Wandayi said the investment was part of efforts by the government to increase electricity connectivity and address infrastructure gaps that have affected communities in Western Kenya and Nyanza.
He said previous governments had neglected the regions in terms of development, leaving some areas almost 40 years behind.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi with residents and leaders during the launch of the Transformer Maximisation Programme at Lwala Rabuor Primary School in Nyatike./HANDOUT
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the current administration under President William Ruto was seeking to reverse the trend by increasing investment in infrastructure, including rural electrification.
The 340 million shilling allocation for Nyatike is expected to target households that are yet to be connected to electricity, with the Transformer Maximisation Programme providing an avenue for expanding access through existing electricity infrastructure.
Transformer maximisation is intended to improve the use and reach of existing transformers by connecting more households within areas already served by electricity infrastructure.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi with residents and leaders during the launch of the Transformer Maximisation Programme at Lwala Rabuor Primary School in Nyatike./HANDOUT
Wandayi said expanding electricity access would have an impact beyond individual households, creating opportunities for schools, businesses and other institutions to benefit from reliable power.
The Nyatike project comes alongside similar electrification efforts in neighbouring counties. In Busia County, the Cabinet Secretary launched the Madua/Pramukh Village Electrification Project in Matayos Constituency, where he highlighted the impact of a partnership between the county government and REREC.
Through the Matching Fund Programme, Busia County has contributed 154 million shillings over the last two years, with REREC matching the contribution.
The joint funding has so far enabled 1,018 households to gain electricity connectivity. Wandayi said such partnerships were important in accelerating access to electricity and called on other counties to adopt the matching-fund approach.
The Cabinet Secretary also pledged that the national government would continue supplementing county government efforts to expand electricity access.
The Nyatike launch was attended by Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko, Nyatike MP Tom Odege and other national and local leaders.
The latest investment signals an increased focus on extending electricity connectivity to households in rural and underserved areas, with the government positioning electrification as a key component of its broader development agenda.
