The solar power plant in Raya, Sankuri division, Balambala sub-county, Garissa County is set to start operations in December this year.
Rural Electrification Authority (REA) chairman Simon Gicharu said once the project is complete, the plant will be connected to the national grid and the power generated will also be consumed in other counties.
Speaking during the launch of e-procurement system at the State agency, Mr Gicharu said more residents will not only get access to electricity but will be able to access clean and affordable power.
“We are currently pushing contractors and by December, the 54.5-megawatt plant will be up and running. Electricity generated from the plant will be fed to the national grid and thus increase the electricity supply capacity in the country,” he said.
The project is being implemented by the Kenya government after it secured a Sh13.5 billion loan from the Exim Bank of China.
The 55-megawatt solar plant is expected to light over 625,000 households and will inject an additional 54 megawatts of power into the national grid.
The Rural Electrification Authority has set up more than 300,000 solar panels which have been spread over 80 acre piece of land in North Eastern.