Productive use of electricity needs to be encouraged

Kenyans who are new to having access to electricity need to be encouraged to explore the productive use of energy business opportunities this connectivity presents.

This was one of the main conclusions drawn by an impact assessment study of Phase 1 of the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) in Kenya, an African Development Bank (AfDB) supported initiative.

The project is a flagship mass electrification programme launched by the Kenyan government. Its main aim is to increase access to electricity for low-income groups in rural and peri-urban areas by connecting them to the national grid.

The study stated that “a high cost of electricity relative to the household income of beneficiaries undermines access and productive use of electricity.”

The country intends to connect 17 million households to the national grid by 2030, with nine million being connected currently.