Four villages in Teso South constituency, Busia county, are jubilating after receiving electricity for the first time since independence.

The four villages were connected to electricity through the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), which targets connecting over 14,000 to the national grid within four months.

The four villages include Kacherere Trading Centre, Kalachamong, Kakoldong, and Kocheck Villages.

REREC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Rose Mkalama, said the Kes 1.29 billion project covering Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kisumu, Siaya, and Vihiga counties will be complete by 30th June.

“Clean energy is a fast growing sector that has made electric grids more resilient, expanded energy access and helped lower energy bills and play a big role as far as climate change is concerned.

Speaking at Kalachamong village, Mkalama said the 56 electrification projects initiated in Busia in the 2022–23 financial year for Kes 311 million will benefit 3,517 customers across the eight sub-counties in the county.

 “This project targets to bridge the energy gap in the rural setup by ensuring more households have affordable clean energy at their disposal,” the CEO noted.

For his part, REREC’s board director, Mr. Milton Lucheri, said they have embraced an innovative participatory approach to financing projects.

This approach entails collaboration between REREC and county governments and constituencies through the National Constituency Development Fund (NCDF) to ensure more households are connected.