For the first time in Kenya’s history, the residents of Lamu Island will connect to the national grid instead of getting electricity from stand-alone power generators, mainly running on diesel, whose cost is borne by all consumers.

The section connecting Lamu to the grid is part of a 328.5-kilometre single circuit transmission line constructed by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) from Rabai to the island through Malindi and Garsen.

It has been set up at a cost of Sh9.7 billion, sourced from the government and the Exim bank of China. It has substations at Malindi, Garsen and Lamu.

“With Lamu’s distribution network now connected to the national grid, current and new consumers will not only be supplied with sufficient power but also reliable electricity. There will be power available during construction of Lamu port, expansion of the Manda Airport and construction of additional hotels in Lamu,” said Mr Fernandes Barasa, Ketraco’s acting managing director.

Lamu comes to the national grid shortly after Isiolo County, which had also remained off-grid for years, owing to challenges in acquiring wayleaves to put up transmission lines as well as due to insecurity.

Garissa and surrounding regions in northern Kenya are currently relying on diesel generators for electricity supply due to similar challenges.

According to data from Kenya Power, access to electricity currently stands at 51 per cent.

The government has set a short-term goal to increase the accessibility rates to 70 per cent by the end of 2017 and achieve universal access by 2020.

Delays in the construction of transmission lines is partly attributed to the low rate of electrification witnessed in the country in the past, that quite often exposes consumers to surges in monthly bills to cater for the cost of running diesel generators.

According to the Energy Regulatory Commission, lack of adequate transmission lines in western Kenya is to blame for the unstable network in the area, which has forced the government to contract provision of 30 megawatts of emergency power, which is priced at Sh18 per unit, compared to Sh3 and Sh7 paid for hydro and geothermal electricity, respectively.