Rural Electrification & Renewable Energy Corporation to connect electricity in Makueni County through a collaboration framework with the County Government of Makueni
In line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda, where Energy is an infrastructural enabler towards the achievement of high quality of life for all Kenyans by the year 2030, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) has been implementing projects to enhance rural electrification all over the Country.
To this end, Makueni County is set for a huge rural electrification connectivity, following the signing of a collaboration framework between REREC and the County Government of Makueni, in September 2021.
Signing of this collaboration framework is a significant step towards a partnership that will enable REREC fulfill its mandate on implementation of electrification projects in the County. It will also help establish a framework for co-operation between REREC and the County Government of Makueni, with regard to implementation of electrification projects and programmes.
The programme, spearheaded by the county government in partnership with Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, was unveiled by Governor Kivutha Kibwana and REREC Chief Executive Officer CPA Peter Mbugua.
The shilling – for – shilling collaboration will lift Makueni from a paltry connectivity of a 25% towards the national rate of 70% as roll out is done in successive financial years. The KSh 60M covers the 2021/2022 financial year, with each partner contributing KSh 30M in a matching fund framework. The programme involves primary school electrification, Mini Grids development, electrification of market centers and other public facilities that are not electrified. Possible establishment and development of energy centres in the County was also discussed.
In the 2022/23 Financial Year, the county government of Makueni will commit a total of Ksh 34 million during this financial year 2021/2022, while REREC will contribute a maximum of Kshs 5 million per Sub County/Constituency under the matching fund facility. This amount will be used to implement selected rural electrification projects during the stated financial year, and ensure also that the electrification agenda for Makueni is fully realised. The county will also avail land for REREC to establish an Energy Centre in the County, to promote the use of alternative sources of energy.
The areas that stand to benefit from this collaboration include implementation of electrification projects via the matching fund programme, implementation of other electrification and renewable energy projects and programmes to include but not limited to; primary School Electrification, mini Grids, electrification of market centres and other public facilities that are not electrified, electrification of Athi River belt and inclusion in Phase II of the KOSAP projects.
Others areas of collaboration outlined in the framework include development of energy master plan(s), establishment and development of energy centres, renewable energy technology research, innovation and development, capacity building and technical support, joint resource mobilization to support common projects and programmes as well as any other activity that the Corporation and the County may mutually agree.
The Shilling for a Shilling program (Matching Fund) allows the County Government or the Members of Parliament to commit a certain amount of money from their development kitty, and REREC commits the exact same amount of money towards rural electrification in the specific region identified by the leaders.
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