By JAMES KILONZO: Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi concluded a high-impact working tour of Bungoma County, turning abstract policy into tangible progress.
The tour, which spanned across several constituencies, served as a powerful activation of President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), proving that the “Last Mile” is no longer just a distant goal, but a lived reality for rural communities.
The journey reached a crescendo in Embakasi Village, Chesikaki Ward, where Wandayi, joined by Area MP Fred Kapondi and Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany, commissioned a transformative connectivity project.
The atmosphere was electric, not just from the newly surged wires, but from the visible joy of residents.
As switches flipped, homes and small businesses were pulled from the shadows.
For the mother sewing late into the night and the trader extending their shop hours, the flickering lights signaled a “quiet revolution” of dignity and economic self-reliance.
Materials to Momentum
Beyond ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Wandayi’s tour focused on the hardware of development. In Bokoli Ward, Webuye West, he presided over the flag-off of construction materials and led a groundbreaking ceremony for new distribution lines.
This initiative is part of a massive Sh1.9 billion investment targeting over 27,000 new grid customers across Bungoma County.
The strategy is clear: transition from urban-centric power to an inclusive rural grid. This expansion underpins the core pillars of BETA by: enabling electric-powered irrigation and cold storage, allowing artisans and small-scale industries to scale production and providing reliable lighting for students to study beyond sunset.
The tour concluded in Khalimuli Village, Sitikho Ward, where Wandayi personally connected the home of Mama Eunice Mukalama to the national grid.
In a public forum that followed, the CS moved from lecturing to listening, addressing local concerns regarding affordability and maintenance.
He reaffirmed the government’s ambitious target of universal electricity access by 2030, emphasizing that energy is a fundamental right, not an urban luxury.
By aligning national vision with devolved execution, working alongside county leadership and local MPs, the Ministry of Energy is effectively bypassing old bureaucratic silos.
These projects serve as a “clarion call” for a future where every village is illuminated. As Wandayi moved through Bungoma’s hills, he left behind more than copper wires; he left a blueprint for national renewal.
Under his watch, #PoweringTheNewKenya has evolved from a hashtag into a measurable commitment to bridging divides, ensuring that when the lights come on in the last mile, the entire nation grows brighter.
