News And Media

• 
  2nd November, 2023
  HISTORIC MOMENT AS PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO COMMISSIONS THE WASINI / MKWIRO SOLAR POWER MINI-GRID

  His Excellency President William Ruto officially commissioned the Wasini Island Solar Power Mini-Grid, a project implemented by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) ... The installation marks the first time that the Island villages of Wasini and Mkwiro located in Lungalunga Constituency, Kwale County have been connected to electricity, symbolizing a significant turning point in the lives of the island's residents. The commissioning ceremony for the mini grid, held amidst a backdrop of excitement and anticipation, is a significant leap forward for the communities residing on the Island renowned for its pristine beauty and tranquil surroundings. The Island is inhabited by a population of approximately 4,000 people and has been isolated from modern amenities with the absence of electricity posing significant challenges to its inhabitants. The commissioning of the solar power mini-grid is therefore set to change the lives of the island's residents by providing them with access to reliable and sustainable electricity. The electrification project is expected to expand the rapidly growing villages, enhance security and spur social economic activities in the area by connecting schools, health facilities, religious institutions, administrative centers and households to electricity.President Ruto, in his address, emphasized the importance of electrification in rural areas, highlighting the Government's commitment to improving the livelihoods of all Kenyan citizens. "I would like to thank the friends of Kenya who have collaborated with us to implement this project for the benefit of the people of Wasini. Today, the project that has cost us 350,000 million shillings will be able to electrify 600 households. We want every house here to get electricity and we will ensure that even your schools and fish landing sites are electrified" he said. The Wasini/Mkwiro Solar Power mini-grid will serve as an inspiring example for other underserved communities, highlighting the transformative potential of renewable energy. The plant has a capacity is 737 Kilowatts per hour which will be distributed via an 11.02 Kilometer power distribution line network and 3 transformers. The solar power plant is supported by a 70Kva standby diesel powered generator. Apart from Wasini Island, electricity mini-grids are also being implemented in Mageta Island in Siaya County, Ngodhe and Takawiri Islands in Homabay County, Kaeris and Kerio markets in Turkana County and Dabel Market in Marsabit County. All these projects are being implemented by the Government of Kenya through REREC under the Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP) solar mini grids subcomponent, which is a World Bank funded facility aimed at increasing access to electricity in the country in an effort to achieve universal access to energy. President Ruto was hosted by the REREC Board of Directors led by the Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Lemiso and the management team led by Ag. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rose Mkalama. Also present were senior Government officials led by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Mr. David Chirchir, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy, Mr Alex Wachira, the Governor of Kwale County Ms. Fatuma Mohamed Achani and area Member of Parliament Hon. Chiforomodo Mangale Munga among other leaders and residents who expressed their gratitude to President Ruto and REREC for making this long-awaited dream a reality.

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• 
  26th October, 2023
  Launch of Strategic Plan 2023-2027

  The Corporation has launched a new Strategic Plan that aims to connect 1 million customers in rural areas through electrification of 15,000 public facilities and installation of 5,000 transformers ... TThe Plan, which also aims at increasing clean energy contribution to the national grid by 18.372MWp was launched on 26th October, 2023. ...The Board Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Lemiso, affirmed that the REREC Board will offer unwavering support by providing policy direction, ensuring availability of adequate resources, and putting in place sound institutional frameworks, structures and policies that will ensure the successful implementation of the Plan.Speaking in the same event, Board Director Mr. Milton Lucheri, who also serves as Chairman of the Strategy & Project Implementation Committee, accentuated the Strategic Plan’s audacious objective to electrify 10 times more clients every year to a tune of 200,000 clients per year compared to the previous Strategic Plan target of 20,000 clients per year. He stated that this 5th generation Plan will require funding of up to Ksh. 169 billion, and called upon the national government, county governments, development partners and other stakeholders to collaborate to help the Corporation achieve this ambitious Plan. As the Corporation moves into the implementation stage, Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rose Mkalama said, "We are aware of the fact that the Corporation has been relying heavily on exchequer funding for project implementation, but looking at the finance requirements of the strategic plan, there is a need to diversify funding sources for programs and projects. We shall, to this extent, be looking towards enhancing our partnerships to augment exchequer funding." Dr. Mkalama added that the Corporation will re-orient its project implementation cycle,end-to-end for efficiency and effectiveness so that the Corporation can continue being responsive to emerging community needs and support Government programs effectively. "Identification of electrification projects shall take cognizance of areas that have a low connectivity rate so that socio-economic transformation can be felt by communities across the country. The Corporation will also decentralize services to its regional offices to increase efficiency in the project implementation cycle and take services closer to the mwananchi," she said. The Corporation was honored to have the presence of the Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy and Taita Taveta Governor H.E. Andrew Mwadime, among other government representatives at the launch event. County governments are key stakeholders of the Corporation as they collaborate with REREC through the Matching Fund programme which accelerates rural electrification in priority areas at the County and Constituency levels. REREC’s new strategic plan aligns perfectly with the government’s commitment to attaining universal access to electricity by the year 2026 and achieving universal access to modern and clean cooking, by 2028; two (2) years ahead of the global goal set out in SDG 7. To achieve this, the Corporation aims to facilitate increased access to training and capacity building of artisans in energy centers and increase the number of renewable energy technologies demonstrated in these centers. Key strategic objectives of the Strategic Plan.

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