Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has put contractors working on the government’s Last Mile Connectivity Program on notice, warning that those failing to deliver face immediate contract termination.
Wandayi issued the stern warning during a Thanksgiving service at Kapsigilay Girls High School in Tinderet, Nandi County, on May 29, making it clear that the government will not tolerate delays in a project meant to light up millions of homes.
The CS said contractors receiving government funding have no excuse for stalling work, insisting that every shilling released must translate into actual connections on the ground for Kenyans.
“We must find other ways to deal with these people so that these projects can be completed in good time,” stated CS Wandayi.
Head of Public Service Felix Kosgei, who was also in attendance, backed the warning, raising concern over persistent delays that continue to slow down electrification projects critical to the socio-economic growth of rural communities.
“These delays are unacceptable. Every day a home stays without electricity is a lost opportunity for that family to grow. We must urgently fix this,” reiterated PS Koskei.
The Last Mile Connectivity Project is a nationwide initiative implemented by Kenya Power and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), targeting low-income households and small businesses across all 47 counties with affordable electricity access.
Members of Parliament have raised alarm over the Last Mile electricity project, revealing only 9 per cent completion despite years of and REREC officials grilled over the delays.
The program, whose stipulated completion time is October this year, is designed to maximise existing electricity infrastructure, bringing power closer to homes and institutions that have historically been left out of the national grid.
Phase IV of the project alone targets over 290,000 homes countrywide and was slated for completion in November 2025, with Phases V and VI currently ongoing as Kenya pushes toward 100 per cent universal electricity access by 2030.
Wandayi reinforced the government’s position, stating that once President William Ruto’s administration releases funds, results must follow.
“Because once the government of His Excellency William Ruto has released the money, the work must be completed so that we can benefit as a country,” stressed CS Wandayi.
When addressing delayed or substandard government projects, authorities threaten immediate contract termination, blacklisting, and prosecution for those failing to meet set milestones.
During project inspections, Ruto has ordered underperforming contractors to vacate sites immediately, citing failure to deliver despite receiving government funding, and has handed strict timelines on key projects, including road construction.
The President has also taken aim at shoddy workmanship, warning that contractors producing substandard work face replacement, blacklisting, and potential prosecution as his administration moves to enforce stricter accountability on public projects.