Kenya Power has secured a Sh12 billion funding boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to drive the third phase of its flagship Last Mile Connectivity Programme (LMCP), targeting 150,000 new connections across the country.
The financing agreement, announced by Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror, marks a significant milestone in the government’s pursuit of universal electricity access, particularly for underserved communities in rural Kenya. The funds will also support the construction and upgrade of critical power infrastructure, including 13 substations and more than 225 kilometres of distribution lines.
“This funding underscores AfDB’s commitment to improving energy access in Africa,” said Mr. Siror. “It will enable us to bring power to more households, businesses, and public institutions, transforming lives and boosting economic activities.”
Since its inception in 2015, the LMCP has played a pivotal role in expanding the country’s electricity coverage. Kenya Power reports that over 746,000 households have already been connected under the programme, doubling the utility’s customer base from 4.8 million in 2016 to 9.85 million by the end of 2024.
The current phase of the project will exclude Mombasa and Nairobi counties, where electricity penetration is already significantly high. Instead, the rollout will focus on regions with lower access levels, offering a lifeline to thousands who remain off-grid.
Under the newly funded phase, Kenya Power plans to construct three new 33/11kV substations, establish seven 33kV switching stations, and upgrade three existing substations. The project will also involve laying 211 kilometres of 33kV lines, 14 kilometres of 11kV lines, and over 6,798 kilometres of low-voltage reticulation either overhead or underground networks.
The Last Mile project was launched as a collaborative effort between Kenya and development partners including AfDB, the World Bank, the European Union, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The programme subsidizes the cost of connection for households located within 600 metres of a transformer, bringing the fee down to an average of Sh15,000 from the previous Sh30,000, thereby easing the burden for low-income families.
With this latest financing, Kenya Power is expected to accelerate progress toward achieving the government’s energy access targets and bolster socio-economic development across the country.
