For years, residents of Sangla Kagak village in Awendo Constituency have watched electricity lines pass nearby while many households remained without power, limiting opportunities for business growth, education and improved living standards.
That gap is now set to narrow after the official handover of a new rural electrification project to a contractor under the government’s Last Mile Connectivity Programme, paving the way for the connection of 112 households around Sangla Kagak Primary School to the national electricity grid.
The project, whose construction is expected to commence immediately, marks another step in Awendo MP Walter Owino’s efforts to improve access to basic infrastructure across the constituency through collaboration with the national government.
Speaking during the site handover alongside community representatives, Owino said the electrification programme reflects his commitment to ensuring more families benefit from essential public services.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to serving the constituents of Awendo by expanding access to essential services. Our next stop will be Kona Ngware as we continue expanding electricity connectivity to more households,” the MP said.
The Last Mile Connectivity Programme was introduced by the national government to accelerate universal access to electricity by extending power to homes located near existing transformers. Across Kenya, the programme has been credited with reducing the number of households without electricity, particularly in rural areas where access has historically lagged behind urban centres.
For Sangla Kagak residents, electricity is expected to bring benefits that extend beyond lighting homes. Local traders anticipate longer business hours, schools expect improved learning conditions as pupils gain better access to evening study time, while families look forward to adopting modern appliances and reducing dependence on kerosene lamps and other costly energy sources.
Reliable electricity is also expected to support the growth of small enterprises such as barber shops, salons, welding workshops, grain milling and phone-charging businesses—activities that often emerge once rural communities are connected to the national grid.
The Sangla Kagak project forms part of a broader push to improve infrastructure in Awendo Constituency. In recent years, Owino has publicly highlighted development priorities including improved education facilities through NG-CDF projects, better road connectivity, expansion of healthcare infrastructure and support for national government investments aimed at stimulating economic growth within the constituency.
The MP indicated that the electrification programme will not end in Sangla Kagak. He announced that Kona Ngware is the next area earmarked for electricity expansion, signalling continued efforts to extend the benefits of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme to more villages.
Residents have welcomed the latest development, saying access to electricity will improve livelihoods and help bridge the long-standing infrastructure gap between rural and urban communities.
As contractors move to begin construction, the project is expected to provide a lasting boost to socio-economic development, reinforcing the role of infrastructure investment in improving the quality of life for families across Awendo Constituency.
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