The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) has revealed plans to connect electricity to homes where the lines pass free of charge.
The move aimed at minimizing conflicts with landowners will see the homes along wayleaves of the power lines get free electricity connection along with the regular cash compensation packages.
Ketraco managing director Mr. Fernandes Barasa said that they will partner with the Rural Electrification Authority to ensure the implementation of the project.
“The plan is that when we have financing for the whole project, we also have a corresponding financing for rural electrification so that the locals can also feel part and parcel of the bigger benefits of the big lines,” said Mr.Barasa in an interview.
Mr. Barasa also said that the project will reduce resistance and costly compensations incurred in getting wayleaves which makes the company spend billions of shillings in land compensation every year.
“One of the biggest challenges we are facing is wayleave acquisition where landowners are demanding exorbitant compensations as much as 10 times the market value,” he said.
The project which is being piloted on the 93.1Km high voltage Isinya-Namanga line is being constructed by North China Power Engineering company and is set for completion by the end of 2019. The project which will cost Sh2.69 billion is funded by the African Development Bank and the government of Kenya.