Members of the National Assembly have raised concern over the slow pace of Kenya’s last-mile electricity connection programme, with lawmakers revealing that only 9 percent of the project has been completed despite years of promises to connect more homes.
The issue came up during a session involving officials from Kenya Power and Lighting Company and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, where MPs questioned why many households, especially in rural areas, still remain without power.
Lawmakers said the slow rollout is affecting ordinary Kenyans who have waited for years to benefit from the programme, which was meant to expand access to electricity to homes located near existing power lines.
Committee chair David Gikaria challenged claims that electricity connectivity in Kenya has surpassed 70 percent, saying the reality in many parts of the country appears very different.
He argued that official figures do not reflect what many communities are experiencing on the ground, where households remain unconnected despite being close to the grid.
Kenya Power defended itself by linking the delays to funding challenges following the collapse of the 2024 Finance Bill.
According to the utility, the disruption affected payments to contractors, slowing down implementation of the project.
But MPs dismissed the explanation, saying Kenya Power has returned to profitability and should not continue depending on donor support to expand household connections.
They argued the company should use part of its own resources to accelerate the programme and respond to the needs of rural families still waiting for electricity.
The utility also pointed to a shortage of contractors, saying only 26 firms are currently handling rollout works across the country, a number lawmakers suggested is too small for a national project of such scale.
The concerns come at a time when Kenya Power is already facing criticism over how it is recovering debts linked to last-mile connections.
Some prepaid customers have complained that large portions of their token purchases, in some cases up to half, are being deducted to recover those costs, sparking anger among consumers.
MPs now want faster action, saying access to electricity is not just about development but also about improving livelihoods, supporting businesses and ensuring rural communities are not left behind.
The pressure from Parliament signals tougher scrutiny for agencies involved in delivering the long-delayed programme.
