- The allocation to REREC will cover power connectivity in rural areas.
- The number of customers connected to the national grid under the Rural Electrification Programme has grown from 1.9m in 2020/21 to almost 3m in 2023.
The Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) has been allocated Sh14.6 billion to boost power connectivity in Kenya. The Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson, Ndindi Nyoro, told members that power distribution was crucial in growing the economy, adding that the funds would cover lagging areas, especially in rural parts.
The Ministry of Energy had requested Sh9 billion to be allocated to REREC, but the committee found it prudent to increase the figure considering the high demand for power coverage. Presenting the Budget Policy Statement, Nyoro said the Kenya Kwanza administration was prioritising technology, especially the opening of ICT hubs in all constituencies countrywide.
“Electricity is a key component for economic growth. Many areas of the country still lack electricity, and that motivated members to increase the allocation to Rerec,” said Nyoro. The number of customers connected to the national grid under the Rural Electrification Programme has grown from 1.9 million in 2020/21 to almost 3 million in 2023.
According to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, a sizable number of Kenyans, mainly in rural areas, are yet to get connected, with the government’s Last Mile Connectivity project facing several challenges, primarily lack of funds.