Eldama Ravine – Alex Wachira, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Energy, announced the government’s commitment to achieving 95% electricity connectivity across Kenya by 2027. Speaking at a national tree planting event in Narasha forest, Eldama Ravine Constituency, Baringo County, Wachira outlined plans to increase the current electricity supply from 78% to 98% before the next General Election.
According to Kenya News Agency, the government, in collaboration with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), is focused on expanding electricity access nationwide. He highlighted the gradual decrease in electricity costs compared to previous years and urged residents to support the president’s initiatives rather than oppose them.
The Principal Secretary responded to concerns raised by Eldama Ravine Member of Parliament, Musa Sirma, about low connectivity rates in his constituency. He assured that the Last Mile electricity connectivity program, set to roll out in the coming financial year, would address these issues, extending from Tugumoi to Molo River.
Wachira also emphasized the importance of environmental conservation as a critical response to climate change, linking recent severe weather events to climatic shifts. He stated, “Planting trees is the only medicine to mitigate the effects brought about by climate change; seven months ago we had a serious drought and now we have floods, these are the effects of climate change.”
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum aims to plant 5 million tree seedlings annually in Kericho and Baringo counties, a goal that requires broad collaboration. Wachira called on community forest associations (CFAs) and other stakeholders to help achieve a monthly target of 462,000 tree seedlings. He noted that the department donated 25,000 tree seedlings for local residents to plant at home.
The event also saw contributions from various state agencies and private sector partners. The State Department for Energy donated 50,000 tree seedlings, Kenya Pipeline, led by Managing Director Joe Sang, contributed 20,000, and Kenya Power participated with 10,000 seedlings and supported a tree conservancy initiative.
Baringo County Deputy Governor Felix Kipng’ok encouraged residents to plant economically beneficial fruit trees like macadamia, coffee, and avocado in their homes. Baringo Forest Conservator Ann Nyaoke reported progress in reducing the area of bare forest land, with a decrease from 700 hectares last year to 300 hectares, supported by 120,000 tree seedlings received from partners for this year’s planting efforts.