Business Desk 
Kenya Power, backed by African Development Bank(AfDB) funding, is set to connect 150,000 new customers to the national grid under the sixth phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project(LMCP).
This initiative will extend electricity access across 45 counties, excluding Nairobi and Mombasa, and includes system upgrades to enhance power distribution.
Dr.Joseph Siror,Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO, said that the Government has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of implementing the sixth phase of the LMCP.
“The funding will go a long way to boost the ongoing national electrification efforts and accelerate the attainment of universal access to electricity by the year 2030,” Siror said.
This marks the third instance of AfDB funding for the LMCP, with the bank having previously financed Phases I and III, which successfully connected a total of 536,077 customers to the grid.
This includes the construction and refurbishment of 13 substations, three new 33/11kV substations, refurbishment and upgrade of three existing ones, and construction of seven new 33kV switching stations.
Meanwhile, the project will see the construction of 211 kilometres and 14 kilometres of 33kV and 11kV distribution lines respectively, as well as 650 kilometres of 33kV lines and 6,798 kilometres of low voltage networks to support last mile connections.
The company is currently implementing the fourth and fifth phases of the project, targeting an additional 291,000 customers.
To kick-start the LMCP Phase VI project, the Company has invited bids for project consultancy services.
Kenya power said that the consultant will undertake technical designs as well as environmental and social performance audits.
Further, they will provide support to the Company through procurement and supervision of construction works.
Since the LMCP Inception in 2015, Kenya Power has connected over 746,000 customers to the national grid.
Apart from the African Development Bank, the LMCP has also been funded by various lenders including the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
