The Kajiado County Government has launched its County Energy Plan which serves as a blueprint for the county’s energy mix, sources and utilization strategies.
Speaking during the launch in Kajiado, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Energy, Alex Wachira, said that the government is working to accelerate electrification in Kajiado as well as other counties countrywide, to ensure 100 percent access to electricity by the year 2030.
He revealed that the government has allocated Sh283 million in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to ensure all the constituencies in Kajiado have access to the last mile connectivity.
Kajiado currently has around 40 percent connectivity level while the national figure stands at 76 percent.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Kajiado Deputy Governor, Martin Moshisho, Kajiado Governor, Joseph ole Lenku, said that the new Energy Plan seeks to promote use of economical energy sources, that drive both household and commercial needs.
The Governor reiterated that only 40 percent of Kajiado residents are connected to the national grid, leaving the rest using charcoal and firewood, hence the Kajiado County Energy Plan is deeply rooted in sustainable development, particularly Goal Number seven (7) which emphasizes on the need to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Governor Lenku urged all residents to adopt clean cooking strategies in order to save forests from wanton destruction in search of wood for energy.
Michael Semera, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, pointed out that the County energy plan is linked with the County Integrated Development Plan(CIDP).
He stated that the Plan was put together in recognition of the critical role that energy plays in driving the County’s social economic development.
The CECM further remarked that they have come up with the county energy plan committee which will ensure the full implementation of the plan.
Semera added that the Plan was already in use even before it’s launch as all County offices use both solar and electricity.
The Energy Act 2019 mandates all the 47 counties to have a County Energy Plan as it is important for the realization of an all-inclusive Integrated National Energy Plan.
By Diana Meneto
