The government has set aside Sh1.5 billion to be used on rural electrification in Siaya County, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said.
Wandayi said the government is committed to ensuring that all corners of the republic benefit from rural electrification initiatives and called on the public to appreciate government efforts.
He was speaking at Sirandu village in Gem constituency, Siaya during the launch of a Sh12 million rural electrification project that will serve 105 customers.
The CS who was flanked by the area Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo and his Nyando counterpart, Jared Okello however, expressed disappointment with the rising cases of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure and urged Kenyans to join the war against vandals.
“It pains that while the government is doing its best to put up infrastructure using a lot of money, those targeted to benefit do not do so because of vandalism,” he said.
Wandayi said anybody engaging in vandalism of critical infrastructure must be dealt with ruthlessly in accordance with the law and urged the police and the national government administration officers to help deal with the menace.
“We must identify, apprehend and hand them over to the police to deal with them,” said the CS.
He at the same time called on county governments to fulfil their mandate of paying for street light bills once the national government puts up the facilities.
“As things stand now, the responsibility of paying for street light bills is with the county governments,” he said, adding, “we urge them to budget for and pay for the street light bills promptly so that they don’t get switched off.”
Addressing the occasion, Odhiambo challenged members of the Siaya County Assembly to ensure that the county government pays for electricity bills to avoid disconnection of lights in the markets.
“We can push and bring street lights but if you do not pay, it does not help. You must push the governor to pay for the bills,” said Odhiambo.
By Philip Onyango
