By Bonface Mulyungi

President William Ruto has pledged to connect 15,000 households in Kwale County to electricity by the end of the year as the government scales up its rural electrification programme across the Coast region.

Speaking in Kinango Sub-County during the flagging-off of rural electrification materials, President Ruto said the government was intensifying efforts to expand electricity access in the county. He noted that more than 12,000 households in Kwale had already been connected to power over the last three years, adding that the new target demonstrates the administration’s commitment to accelerating development in underserved areas.

The President said the electrification programme, being implemented by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), will cost KSh1.8 billion.

Acting REREC Chief Executive Officer Davies Cheruiyot said the materials flagged off on Thursday would facilitate the connection of 401 households under three key projects in the county.

The projects include the Bomani Township and Primary School Electrification Project, which is expected to benefit 145 households; the Gandini Village and Primary School Electrification Project targeting about 89 households; and the Mbuluni Township and Primary School Electrification Project, which will connect 167 households.

REREC General Manager for Information, Education and Communication Beatrice Njuguna said the corporation is currently implementing 314 electrification projects across Kwale County.

President Ruto, who is on a tour of the Coast region, is expected to flag off additional electrification materials in Hindi, Lamu County, on Friday as part of the ongoing rural connectivity drive.

The Head of State was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and several Coast region leaders led by Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho.