At least 1.5 million more people in Kenya wil benefit from electricity connection by February next year, when Kenya Power completes the implementation of a Sh13.5 billion project.
According to the Kenya Power’s manager John Guda, the project will be the first phase of the Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) program which is being implemented at a cost of Sh62.5 billion.
He said Kenya Power was using 532 already existing transformers to connect electricity to various homes in the country.
He added that in order to undertake the exercise, the company is partnering with contractors in the country so as to fast-track the implementation of the multi-billion shilling LMC project.
But he cautioned contractors against doing shoddy work which puts the safety of consumers at stake.
Mr Guda further warned contractors against engaging in illegal connections and disowning their workers when they die from accidents in the line of duty.
Mr Guda said that 11 people have so far died in the last five years due to developers building structures under power lines.
He particuraly spotted out Eastleigh, Kayole and Dandora in Nairobi and parts of Mombasa County where encroachment on power lines was still prevalent.”We are warning the public against building structures under powerlines or cutting trees near powerlines for their own safety,” he said.
Mr Guda was speaking at the Royal Castle in Mombasa during a meeting to sensitize contractors on safety measures in order to prevent accidents caused by electricity.
Mr. Noah Omondi, the Kenya Power network maintenance manager said the company suffers a loss of between Sh60 million and Sh75 million monthly as a result of transformer damage.
He said this was as a result of sub-standard work by contractors, which causes power lines to either collide or fall down.