During Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui County, President William Ruto pledged to connect an additional 16,500 households to the national power grid within the next three months. Many residents, like Philip Komu, still rely on unreliable solar lamps or kerosene due to lack of electricity since independence, impacting livelihoods and education.

• President Ruto announced a KSh 2.2 billion investment to expand electricity access across Kitui County.
• The goal is to connect 16,500 new households between now and February next year.
• Residents in areas like Imumba village have never had grid electricity, unlike those in Nditime Market, which benefited from the Last Mile Connectivity Program three years ago.
• Richard Mwendandu, Kitui County’s Energy Minister, emphasized that reliable energy is fundamental for development.