AfDB lends Shs.13 billion for power connections initial phase

Monday, 25th August, 2014

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed a USD150 million loan (approximately Shs.13 billion) to the government to finance part of the one million new electricity connections target announced by Kenya Power for this financial year.

Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Eng. Joseph Njoroge, disclosed that the loan is the first phase of the AfDB financing (totaling about Shs.60 billion) that will cover connection costs for approximately 400,000 customers this year.


Commenting on the one million connection target, Kenya Power Managing Director & CEO, Dr. Ben Chumo, said the Company will ride on last year’s success to accelerate the rate of connections which saw the company record 443,000 new customer connections up from 307,000 recorded the previous year.


Dr. Chumo said the Company is working closely with the energy ministry and financial institutions to ensure allocation of adequate resources to maintain high rate of connectivity in the coming years as part of demand creation for the 5,000 MW additional capacity envisioned by the government and help attain 70% electricity penetration by the year 2020 (up from the current 32%).


The two were speaking on Sunday at a media briefing session in Athi River where they witnessed a Shs.159 million power upgrade project aimed at stabilizing power supply to customers in Nairobi’s rapidly growing satellite towns of Athi River, Kitengela, Namanga, Machakos and Mlolongo.


Ends…..
For more information, contact:
Kenya Power Corporate Communications Dept.
Tel. 3201622/39 or/47
E-mail communications@kenyapower.co.ke