Last mile connectivity project has already been politicized

Those blasting the last mile electrification project lack substantial elements of critique. Some politically poisoned analysts of the project have resulted to flimsy, trivial and myopic points of reference as the reasons for discrediting the project. The argument that the project lack socio-economic benefits as argued by Edwin Okoth in his polemic article titled “Experts poke holes on plan to take power to every home” is self-defeating simply because access to electricity is the main economic driver. I personally do not agree with household-level analysis of an electrification project.

Electricity supply is not like a wifi hotspot that only allows those within a certain radius to benefit. The supply was primarily meant for all primary schools. However, due to the nature of electricity supply, many collateral beneficiaries such as households, market centers, private institutions and other establishments within the proximity of a transformer will use it to do business. The project therefore, has a massive ripple effect that makes it so useful in an economy.

The claim that poor people will be unable to pay is laughable since it’s not a mandatory requirement that one must have electricity at home simply because there is a transformer nearby; and again, how can people perceived to be poor afford kerosene on daily basis but still be unable to pay ksh 200 electricity bill that is meant to replace kerosene? Between kerosene and electricity, which one is more expensive? Still on the economic point of view, kerosene is imported while much of the electricity is locally generated in Kenya; doesn’t it mean that Kenya is becoming more self-reliant in supply of power?

The effect of electricity access cannot be underestimated especially in a fast growing Kenyan economy. In the long-term, rural-urban migration will reduce since business centers will develop in rural areas, hence providing the services that would otherwise pull people in developed cities and towns. Agricultural industries will also flourish especially if road networks will also be developed. Moreover, important social amenities such as banks, hospitals, schools, petrol stations and transport services will be developed in rural areas hence leading to development of new towns and cities. With this in mind, we can’t politicize such a noble project because we worry about few poor people who will be unable to pay the monthly bill.

The county governments should take advantage of the project and develop agricultural based industries in rural areas. The government should also carry out a civic education to educate the population especially in rural areas on how they can use electricity to do business. If this is done effectively, equitably and without political balkanization, Kenya will achieve vision 2030 by the year 2025