Energy CS Charles Keter yesterday commissioned the Dadaab power station.

 

It will provide electricity to more than 200,000 people have electricity connection under the Rural Electrification Programme.The project is co-funded by UNHCR and the Kenyan government for Sh200 million. Dadaab and neighbouring public primary schools will have electricity next month, Keter said.

 

The CS said his ministry will extend power connections to the nearby trading centres as soon as it receives funding from the World Bank.

 

He said the programe to extend connection to rural areas will improve education standards and small-scale traders’ business.

 

We will receive $100 million (Sh1 billion) from World Bank to extend power to off-grid areas. This will cover most of the areas,” Keter said. The CS said so far 597 primary schools in Garissa county have been connected to power through the recently launched national grid and solar panels. The remaining eight will be connected within a month, Keter said.

 

He said the second phase to be funded by the government and the African Development Fund at Sh15 billion will see supply power to Fafi and Wajir South constituencies.

 

Keter said geothermal reduces the cost of connection. Off-grid areas like Mombasa will be connected by December, the CS added.

 

“By December we will not be using the diesel plant in Mombasa because the grid from Olkaria will be completed. We are working towards bringing the figures to a single digit,” Keter said.

 

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama said commissioning the power project will spur economic growth in Dadaab, the fastest-growing town in the county.

 

Source : www.the-star.co.ke