Kenya has the highest electricity access rate in East Africa according to the most recent World Bank report which tracks sustainable energy achievements globally.
The World Bank released the Energy Progress Report covering the period up to 2016 where access to electricity in Kenya was 56 percent compared to 32.8 percent in Tanzania, 29.37 percent in Rwanda, 26.7 percent in Uganda, and 7.5 percent in Burundi.
In April 2018, electricity access in Kenya stood at 73.42 percent thanks to several national electrification projects that are being carried out by Kenya Power like the last Mile Connectivity Project and GPOBA that singles out urban informal settlements and low-income households in rural areas.
Kenya’s national electricity access rate has grown significantly from 32 percent in 2013 driven by increased investment in the distribution network and investment in the production of renewable energy.
The World Bank report also says the rural population’s access rate surged 7.17 percent in 2010 to 48.39 percent in the review period while the urban population’s access rate increased 58.2 percent to 77.6 percent.
Kenya has been listed as one of the countries with the most gains ensuing from increasing access to electricity for lighting, businesses, and cooking.
The report states: “Some of the strongest gains were made in Kenya, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, which all increased their electricity access rate by 3% or more annually between 2010 and 2016. Sub-Saharan Africa’s electrification deficit has begun to fall in absolute terms for the first time. Tens of millions of people now have access to electricity through solar home systems or connected to mini-grids.”
The report has been released amid Kenya Power’s increased efforts to attain universal access to electricity by 2020. Some of these efforts include completing ongoing electrification projects, boosting investment in the distribution network by creating more substations and lines to supply electricity to new customers, and improving the quality of power supply.
Furthermore, Kenya Power recently released a self-service app as part of its efforts in harnessing technology to improve service delivery to its customers.
