Sh6b more to be spent on schools electrification

Rural Electrification Authority Chairman Dr Simon Gicharu joins pupils of Kiawairia Primary for a dance during the commissioning of primary and secondary schools’ electrification project in Kiambu County recently. [Photo: John Muchucha/STANDARD]

The Government will spend Sh6 billion more to connect the remaining primary schools to electricity. New data released by Rural Electrification Authority (REA), show only 233 schools are yet to be connected in the Sh29 billion programme started by the Government in 2013 targeting more than 22,000 public primary schools.

The remaining schools did not feature in the initial 2013 list that had 19,000 schools targeted. The agency has now set August 2016 as the new deadline for connecting all primary schools to pave the way for the launch of Jubilee administration’s belated laptop project. When complete, the Government would have spent a total of Sh35 billion against an initial budget of Sh29 billion.

According to REA, the implementing agency, so far, some 22,249 schools have been connected. Some 18,074 schools have been connected through grid extension system and 4,175 through installation of solar power. Also, major construction has been completed for 646 schools and are awaiting transformers and commissioning.

Kaptorot, Kalabat, Kibonjos, Sigimwo, and Kipkolony primary schools are among the 42 in Baringo County connected through solar. “Work is also in progress for a further 247 schools but this has been affected by a shortage of line construction materials,” said REA Board Chairman Simon Gicharu in a statement.

Dr Gicharu said arrangements have been made to acquire the missing materials by mid July 2016 with the work expected to be complete by end of August 2016. “The final group of un-electrified schools comprise of 233 newly identified public schools and design work is complete, construction contracts awarded and will commence during the second half of July 2016,” said Gicharu.

Existing Schools

These include schools in counties of Baringo (4), Bomet (13), Bungoma (25), Busia(11), Elgeyo Marakwet (6), Embu(4), Homa Bay(9), Kakamega (38) and Kericho (14).

Gicharu called on the public to provide information about primary schools that have not been connected to the national power grid. “We do not want to leave any public school out of this connection and we believe the public are well placed to remind us of the uncovered institutions for consideration and planning,” said Gicharu. “We therefore invite the public to report any primary school that may not be in the list of pending schools for electrification and is not electrified.” The REA board chair noted this applies to only existing public primary schools and not proposed schools or those still under construction.

“Take note that if we (the board) does not receive any additional schools by July 20, then REA will proceed to declare all primary schools in Kenya electrified,” said Gicharu. He said this at the launch of a power connection project in Chepsaita, Turbo Constituency.