Cabinet Secretary of Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi, alongside Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira and Igembe South MP Hon. John Paul Mwirigi, presided over the official groundbreaking and flagging off of the Last Mile Connectivity Projects in Igembe South, Meru County—an initiative extending clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to Athiru Gaiti Market and the villages of Kalamene and Ugoti. Far more than the physical rollout of power lines, the event represents a decisive intervention in Kenya’s long struggle against rural energy poverty and signals a deliberate recalibration of national development priorities.
For decades, the absence of reliable electricity has entrenched inequality between urban centers and rural hinterlands, reinforcing cycles of deprivation and limiting economic mobility. In this context, Wandayi’s visible, hands-on leadership is not symbolic; it is strategic. It reflects a government intent on dismantling structural exclusion and advancing inclusive growth by delivering the foundations of modern productivity to communities historically left on the margins. The project stands as tangible evidence that President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) is translating from policy rhetoric into concrete action.
The electrification of Athiru Gaiti Market alone carries transformative potential. Traditionally animated by traders selling miraa, maize, and livestock under unforgiving conditions, the market has long operated within the constraints of daylight and manual systems. With access to reliable electricity, vendors can introduce cold storage facilities to preserve perishables, drastically reducing post-harvest losses while stabilizing incomes and improving pricing power.
Electric power also unlocks participation in Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital economy. Mobile money platforms, point-of-sale systems, and digital recordkeeping become viable, reducing the risks associated with cash-based trade and expanding access to credit and formal financial services. In Kalamene and Ugoti, electricity becomes a gateway to knowledge and innovation—powering computers, enabling internet connectivity, and linking residents to educational resources, agricultural extension services, and broader regional and global markets.
The presence of Wandayi and Wachira at the groundbreaking reinforces a critical message: rural Kenya is not an afterthought in national planning, but a central pillar of the country’s economic future.
Beyond its immediate local impact, the Igembe South project is emblematic of Kenya’s broader ambition to achieve universal energy access by 2030, in alignment with global sustainable development goals. While Kenya has made notable progress through sustained investments in hydropower, geothermal, and renewable energy, stark disparities persist. Urban electrification rates remain comparatively high, while many rural regions continue to lag behind, constrained by distance, cost, and infrastructure gaps.
The Last Mile Connectivity Projects—implemented through institutions such as the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC)—are designed precisely to close this divide. By deploying a hybrid model that combines grid extensions, mini-grids, and off-grid solar solutions, the program targets underserved communities with technologies suited to local realities.
In Igembe South, the implications are profound. Women in Ugoti stand to be freed from the daily burden of collecting firewood, reclaiming valuable time for education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. Young people in Kalamene can establish agro-processing enterprises powered by electric grinders, pumps, and storage facilities—adding value to agricultural produce, generating employment, and reducing the pressures that drive rural-to-urban migration. These outcomes directly reinforce the BETA vision by empowering the “hustlers”—ordinary Kenyans whose productivity underpins national economic growth.
While some critics may frame such initiatives as politically motivated or timed for electoral advantage, the scale, institutional backing, and sustained rollout of these projects suggest a longer-term development commitment rather than episodic symbolism.
Nonetheless, a sober assessment requires acknowledging the challenges that have historically undermined rural electrification efforts. Delayed implementation, weak maintenance regimes, and affordability constraints for low-income households remain legitimate concerns. Even subsidized tariffs can strain families surviving on minimal and irregular incomes, threatening the sustainability of connections once installed.
To mitigate these risks, Wandayi’s ministry must prioritize durable, community-centered models of energy management. Locally managed mini-grids, transparent billing structures, and targeted support for ultra-poor households can ensure that access does not collapse under economic pressure. Furthermore, electricity must be integrated with complementary infrastructure—digital connectivity, vocational training, and e-learning hubs—to maximize developmental returns. Power alone is not enough; it must be embedded within a broader ecosystem of opportunity.
The collaboration with MP John Paul Mwirigi underscores the importance of political stewardship at the grassroots level. Effective local leadership can mobilize community buy-in, resolve land access issues, and protect infrastructure from vandalism, ensuring that national investments yield lasting benefits. If replicated across the country, this model could position Kenya as a continental leader in equitable energy distribution and renewable integration—from geothermal power in Olkaria to solar expansion in the arid north.
Ultimately, the Igembe South groundbreaking encapsulates what becomes possible when policy coherence meets decisive leadership. Opiyo Wandayi’s commitment—reinforced by Alex Wachira and John Paul Mwirigi—demonstrates that rural electrification is not a peripheral concern but a catalyst for national transformation. It reframes development not as benevolence, but as strategic investment.
Every kilowatt-hour delivered to Athiru Gaiti, Kalamene, and Ugoti multiplies opportunity—enhancing productivity, stimulating enterprise, and strengthening social equity. As Kenya confronts economic headwinds and structural inequalities, sustained investment in rural energy access offers a pathway to resilience and shared prosperity.
The lights are coming on in Meru. The task ahead is to ensure they illuminate every corner of the nation—equally, sustainably, and without exception.
James’ Kilonzo Bwire is a Media and Communication Practitioner.
