NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Energy has raised serious concerns over the slow implementation of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, revealing that the project has reached only 9 per cent completion despite years of significant public investment.
Appearing before the committee, officials from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) were pressed to explain the delays in a programme considered critical to expanding electricity access across the country.
Committee Chairperson David Gikaria, who is also the Nakuru East Member of Parliament, questioned the gap between official government figures and what lawmakers say is the reality on the ground.
“We are being told connectivity is above 70 per cent, yet on the ground, it is a different story. Based on the data we have, last-mile connectivity is at only 9 per cent with just months to go,” Gikaria said.
He added that electricity remains a key driver of economic growth, warning that the current pace of implementation does not reflect the urgency required.
Kenya Power attributed some of the delays to disruptions following the collapse of the Finance Bill 2024, saying the development affected the timely disbursement of funds to contractors involved in the rollout.
However, MPs dismissed the explanation, arguing that the utility should explore internal funding mechanisms instead of relying heavily on external financing.
“Let us not hide behind the Finance Bill. That cannot be the reason for continued under-performance,” Gikaria said.
“If KPLC is now profitable, why can’t you use your own resources to drive last-mile connectivity instead of waiting for donors?”
Lawmakers also raised concerns about planning and implementation gaps in the programme.
Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe warned that reliance on GIS-based planning systems risks excluding informal settlements such as Mukuru and Mathare, where electricity access remains low.
He said inadequate electricity coverage in such areas contributes to recurring fire outbreaks caused by the use of candles and other unsafe lighting sources.
Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya questioned the concentration of contracts, noting that only 26 contractors are currently handling projects nationwide, a situation he said may be slowing down progress.
Chepalungu MP Victor Koech also criticised what he termed as contractor inefficiency, accusing some firms of receiving payments without completing assigned work.
In response, Kenya Power officials said reforms have been introduced, including localized invoicing and the creation of a project account in February 2025 to address previous payment delays linked to international processing systems.
Despite the challenges, the utility company maintained that it is on track to complete the current phase of the project by October 2026.
The Energy Committee has now directed KPLC and REREC to submit a detailed constituency-by-constituency progress report covering all 290 constituencies for parliamentary review.
