The County Government of Makueni intends to provide clean reliable and affordable energy to its residents in an effort to promote food production and create job opportunities especially for the youth, area Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said.
Consequently, Mutula said clean, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy access to households, health facilities, schools and value addition to agricultural production will reshape the energy landscape in the county.
While saying Makueni leads in production of fruits like mangoes and pixies, value addition to such produce will prevent post-harvest loss and ensure higher prices would need reliable energy.
“As the county strives to promote food production and reduce overreliance on rain-fed agriculture, we require reliable energy to power water for irrigation. Interventions in this areas will contribute significantly to food security and job creation for our people,” said Mutula on Tuesday.
“The plan we have launched today holds potential in reshaping our future energy landscape. It not only ensures energy access to households in the county, but also electrification of schools and health facilities, value addition for agricultural produce. Powering water for domestic and agricultural use and cold chain infrastructure will increase the shelf-life of our produce,” he added during the Launch of Makueni County Energy Plan 2023-2032 at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Empowerment Centre in Wote town.
Mutula said that the plan that has an investment prospectus will drive the county towards the future of sustainable energy access that will lead to economic growth hence improve the livelihoods of the people.
At the same time, he said that 65% of the population in Makueni is not connected either to grid or mini-grids while saying that they are working closely with the national government agencies to ensure energy access to the households.
“I am aware it is not only connectivity but also affordability are barriers to energy access. Our households, businesses and the delivery of quality healthcare are affected. It is a sad reality to recognize the importance of access to affordable and reliable energy that is a key enabler to socio-economic development,” said Mutula.
To implement the plan it requires an estimated sh 74.9 billion and he called upon development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector and the community to support the venture.
Speaking at the same event, British Deputy High Commissioner Dr Ed Barnett said that his government has given sh 100 million support Makueni in its energy journey and also address climate change.
“This support, through Strathmore University and International Centre for Agroforestry will ensure the development of the county energy policy, which will see the implementation of the energy plan. The addition support to the county’s efforts to protect and restore landscapes through nature based solutions,” said Dr. Barnett.
He said the plan of Makueni was transformative that will help to achieve universal electrification by 2026 and clean cooking by 2028 in line with Kenya’s national energy targets.
Dr Barnett said his country will lead by example on matters of climate change where they will assist countries in growing economies to tackle challenges and ensure delivery of clean power and accelerate the transition to clean power.
“We aim to build a Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA). This will bring together a coalition of countries at the cutting edge of climate action who share our ambition. We want to work collaboratively with international partners and share more about deploying clean energy at a scale and at a pace,” he observed.
The Deputy High Commissioner revealed that his government has capacity build 29 county officers in energy planning, policy development and finance.
Barnett further added that they have also trained 16 chief officers on integrated planning and budgeting whereby 40 technical staff have honed their skills in solar PV installation.
“This leaves Makueni County equipped not just for today, but for the future. It will ensure progress is sustainable in the long term,” he added.
Present at the function included the Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Executive Committee Member for Infrastructure and Energy Eng. Sabastian Kyoni, his counterparts for Devolution, Health and Trade and Lands, Urban Planning and Environment namely Japheth Mang’oka, Paul Musila and Dr. Sonia Nzilani and Nicolas Nzioka respectively.
By Patrick Nyakundi
