Kibwezi-West MP Mwengi Mutuse being celebrated by Kwethelu Villagers when he led the Commissioning 78 households connected to power. Photo Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) are racing against time to connect 3,612 new homesteads in Kibwezi West Constituency to electricity by September this year, in a transformative rural electrification drive.
The ambitious project has already lit up lives in the remote Kwethelu Village, where 78 households are now enjoying the benefits of electricity—mainly for lighting and powering electronic devices such as TV sets.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who commissioned some of the newly connected homes on Wednesday, reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving universal electricity access in the constituency by 2027.
“We shall not leave anyone behind. Even those with grass-thatched houses will be connected to electricity,” Mutuse assured.
The MP revealed that by the close of the last financial year on June 30, Kenya Power and REREC had signed and awarded contracts worth KSh 350 million towards the project. An additional KSh 450 million has been allocated in the current financial year to scale up the initiative.
Mutuse urged locals to support the project by allowing electricity poles to be erected on their land, warning that demanding compensation could jeopardize the expansion.
“I understand some people feel they need to be compensated for poles to pass through their farms. Let me be clear—under this last-mile connectivity project, there is no allocation for compensation. If you set too many conditions, the project will be shifted elsewhere to your disadvantage,” he cautioned.
He also warned residents against falling prey to illegal connections, which he said pose serious safety hazards and could lead to fatalities.
“Once you are connected, ensure you pay your bills. Don’t be tempted to call private electricians to reconnect power through the backdoor—it’s dangerous,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Caroline Omenda, the Kenya Power Manager in charge of Customer Experience in Makueni County, who warned that illegal connections could also damage transformers, disrupting services for entire communities.
Patricia Ndungwa, a beneficiary from Kwa Ithelu Village, expressed her gratitude and revealed her plans to use the electricity for income-generating ventures.
“I plan to start hatcheries now that we have reliable power. This will help improve our livelihoods,” she said.
According to a recent economic survey, only one in every three homesteads in Kibwezi West was connected to electricity as of 2022. The ongoing project is expected to significantly improve access, spur economic activity, and enhance quality of life in the region.
