Kenya surpasses connectivity target with increased electricity meter uptake

Kenya has surpassed its electricity connectivity targets, connecting 256,206 new customers to the grid, exceeding its goal of 225,000 by 13.87% by December 2023. The total number of grid-connected customers now stands at 9,454,819. This achievement is attributed to the availability and rapid installation of meters, along with the deployment of the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to expedite meter installations for new connections nationwide, as reported by Kenya Power.

The company aims to connect 400,000 new customers by the end of the current financial year and plans to reach an additional four million customers by 2030 to achieve universal access to electricity. Projects like the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP), funded by various entities including the Kenyan government, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, have contributed significantly. Phase 4 of the LMCP is set to connect 280,000 customers across 32 counties within 18 months.

Joseph Siror, Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO, emphasized the proactive approach to address power distribution constraints, highlighting the installation of 67,000 smart meters targeting SMEs and the Meter Data Management Infrastructure. Smart meters enable real-time monitoring and remote reading, empowering consumers to track their electricity consumption patterns effortlessly.

The company’s long-term goal is to connect four million additional households by 2030, leveraging Kenya’s predominantly green power generation mix, which contributes to competitively priced electricity compared to other regions in the continent.

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