Kenya's state-owned power utility company says it will raise the level of rural electricity connectivity to above 20% in the next three years, owing to increasing demand for electricity.

Energy minister, Mr. Kiraitu Murungi said last week a rural electrification programme instigated five years ago had scored a growth momentum of 10%, up from 6% but added this is still below the required level to jumpstart speedy industrialisation in the country. The programme is a government initiative to light-up close to one million rural homes in efforts to combat poverty in the country.

The minister said the level was relatively low, compared to other African countries including Nigeria and Zambia where the levels had grown to 98% and 50% respectively.

"As demand for electricity is rising at more than 6 per cent annually, the ministry of energy intends to raise the level of connectivity as well as promote additional investment in power generation," said Kiraitu.

He said that the plan already formulated by the ministry to raise the level would involve connecting public institutions such as schools, colleges, public offices while another phase is expected to connect an estimated one million households.

"The project of improving the power distribution system which started in 2004 is still continuing," said Kiraitu adding that since commencement of the programme, many consumers have benefited through improvement in the quality of power supply in the country.

The government official revealed that in efforts to increase the power generation to match the increasing demand, the government through the ministry had earmarked various projects for development and commissioning.

The planned projects includes 50MW of additional oil fired capacity by Iberafrica at Nairobi industrial area, 35MW of additional geothermal power capacity by Orpower, 80-90MW medium speed power plant at Rabai Mombasa by a BWSC-Aldwych consortium and 80-90MW medium speed diesel plant by Simba Energy.

In addition to this will be 34MW of cogeneration by Mumias Sugar Company using bagasse of which 26MW of the capacity will be sold to KPLC while the balance will be used to support the company's internal use.

Besides, the project will also involve a power capacity enhancement of Kiambere hydropower from the 144MW to 164MW undertaken by KenGen.

Kiraitu however disclosed that an interim 50MW diesel power plant on construction by the government at the Embakasi KPLC site to increase the electricity supply will be discontinued by end of next year once the envisaged power generation projects are completed.

"This interim additional diesel power generation plant being installed at the KPLC will raise the existing temporary generation capacity to 146MW and is expected to be discontinued by December next year when the operation of the planned projects kicks on," said Kiraitu.