NEWS

NEWS AND MEDIA

  • 2nd November, 2023
    HISTORIC MOMENT AS PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO COMMISSIONS THE WASINI / MKWIRO SOLAR POWER MINI-GRID

    His Excellency President William Ruto officially commissioned the Wasini Island Solar Power Mini-Grid, a project implemented by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). The installation marks the first time that the Island villages of Wasini and Mkwiro located in Lungalunga Constituency, Kwale County have been connected to electricity, symbolizing a significant turning point in the lives of the island's residents.

    The commissioning ceremony for the mini grid, held amidst a backdrop of excitement and anticipation, is a significant leap forward for the communities residing on the Island renowned for its pristine beauty and tranquil surroundings. The Island is inhabited by a population of approximately 4,000 people and has been isolated from modern amenities with the absence of electricity posing significant challenges to its inhabitants. The commissioning of the solar power mini-grid is therefore set to change the lives of the island's residents by providing them with access to reliable and sustainable electricity.
    The electrification project is expected to expand the rapidly growing villages, enhance security and spur social economic activities in the area by connecting schools, health facilities, religious institutions, administrative centers and households to electricity.
    President Ruto, in his address, emphasized the importance of electrification in rural areas, highlighting the Government's commitment to improving the livelihoods of all Kenyan citizens. "I would like to thank the friends of Kenya who have collaborated with us to implement this project for the benefit of the people of Wasini. Today, the project that has cost us 350,000 million shillings will be able to electrify 600 households. We want every house here to get electricity and we will ensure that even your schools and fish landing sites are electrified" he said.
    The Wasini/Mkwiro Solar Power mini-grid will serve as an inspiring example for other underserved communities, highlighting the transformative potential of renewable energy. The plant has a capacity is 737 Kilowatts per hour which will be distributed via an 11.02 Kilometer power distribution line network and 3 transformers. The solar power plant is supported by a 70Kva standby diesel powered generator.
    Apart from Wasini Island, electricity mini-grids are also being implemented in Mageta Island in Siaya County, Ngodhe and Takawiri Islands in Homabay County, Kaeris and Kerio markets in Turkana County and Dabel Market in Marsabit County.
    All these projects are being implemented by the Government of Kenya through REREC under the Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP) solar mini grids subcomponent, which is a World Bank funded facility aimed at increasing access to electricity in the country in an effort to achieve universal access to energy.
    President Ruto was hosted by the REREC Board of Directors led by the Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Lemiso and the management team led by Ag. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rose Mkalama. Also present were senior Government officials led by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Mr. David Chirchir, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy, Mr Alex Wachira, the Governor of Kwale County Ms. Fatuma Mohamed Achani and area Member of Parliament Hon. Chiforomodo Mangale Munga among other leaders and residents who expressed their gratitude to President Ruto and REREC for making this long-awaited dream a reality.

  • 26 th October, 2023
    Launch of Strategic Plan 2023-2027

    The Corporation has launched a new Strategic Plan that aims to connect 1 million customers in rural areas through electrification of 15,000 public facilities and installation of 5,000 transformers. The Plan, which also aims at increasing clean energy contribution to the national grid by 18.372MWp was launched on 26 th October, 2023.

    Speaking during the launch ceremony, the Principal Secretary, State Department of Energy Mr. Alex Wachira, commended REREC for the development of the Strategic Plan and emphasized his unwavering confidence in the successful implementation of the Plan. In his remarks, Mr. Wachira noted that REREC is dedicated to changing the landscape of the country by achieving 100% electrification by the year 2030
    The Board Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Lemiso, affirmed that the REREC Board will offer unwavering support by providing policy direction, ensuring availability of adequate resources, and putting in place sound institutional frameworks, structures and policies that will ensure the successful implementation of the Plan.
    Speaking in the same event, Board Director Mr. Milton Lucheri, who also serves as Chairman of the Strategy & Project Implementation Committee, accentuated the Strategic Plan’s audacious objective to electrify 10 times more clients every year to a tune of 200,000 clients per year compared to the previous Strategic Plan target of 20,000 clients per year. He stated that this 5th generation Plan will require funding of up to Ksh. 169 billion, and called upon the national government, county governments, development partners and other stakeholders to collaborate to help the Corporation achieve this ambitious Plan.
    As the Corporation moves into the implementation stage, Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rose Mkalama said, "We are aware of the fact that the Corporation has been relying heavily on exchequer funding for project implementation, but looking at the finance requirements of the strategic plan, there is a need to diversify funding sources for programs and projects. We shall, to this extent, be looking towards enhancing our partnerships to augment exchequer funding."
    Dr. Mkalama added that the Corporation will re-orient its project implementation cycle,end-to-end for efficiency and effectiveness so that the Corporation can continue being responsive to emerging community needs and support Government programs effectively.
    "Identification of electrification projects shall take cognizance of areas that have a low connectivity rate so that socio-economic transformation can be felt by communities across the country. The Corporation will also decentralize services to its regional offices to increase efficiency in the project implementation cycle and take services closer to the mwananchi," she said.
    The Corporation was honored to have the presence of the Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy and Taita Taveta Governor H.E. Andrew Mwadime, among other government representatives at the launch event. County governments are key stakeholders of the Corporation as they collaborate with REREC through the Matching Fund programme which accelerates rural electrification in priority areas at the County and Constituency levels.
    REREC’s new strategic plan aligns perfectly with the government’s commitment to attaining universal access to electricity by the year 2026 and achieving universal access to modern and clean cooking, by 2028; two (2) years ahead of the global goal set out in SDG 7. To achieve this, the Corporation aims to facilitate increased access to training and capacity building of artisans in energy centers and increase the number of renewable energy technologies demonstrated in these centers.

  • 14 December, 2021
    Electrification of Public Facilities Project

    Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) on 14th December 2021 launched an Electrification for Public Facilities Project ... (EFPF) in Tana River County. The Project, which is divided into five beneficiary lot regions, aims to see approximately 600 public facilities electrified and at least 35,460 households get access to electricity.
    This Project, is jointly financed by the Government of Kenya and Arab Development Partners namely; Arab Bank for Economic Development (BADEA), OPEC Fund for Development (OFID), Abu Dhabi for Development (ADFD), and Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) at a total cost of US $57 Million.
    In Lot 5 areas, a total of 103 projects will be implemented. Here, the Corporation is expected to cover Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River Counties in Upper Eastern and Coast Region.
    As a result, construction of 500km of medium voltage distribution lines will be set up. This means, households in close proximity to transformers and meet all installation requirements will have access to electricity.

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    Overall, the scope of the project shall include the construction of 2,850 km of electricity distribution lines and installation of transformers. The project envisages to electrify 1,200 public facilities which include market centers, health centers, educational institutions, tea buying centers, coffee factories and administration Centers.
    On completion, the project will ensure the electrification of 35,460 households in 131constituencies located in 36 Counties in Nyanza and Western, North Rift, South Rift, Central and Upper Eastern, Lower Eastern and Coast region. It is estimated that in each of the five project areas over 7,000 households will be connected to electricity.

  • 11 June, 2021
    Meru Medical Camp

    Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) is taking over the management of renewable Energy Centres in the country. ... The corporation is finalizing the takeover of 16 centres in a move that will see more generation and access to green energy. The CEO, CPA Peter Mbugua and senior management presided over the issuance of offer letters to Mitunguu Energy Center staff.
    REREC further held a discussion with Meru County Government that will culminate in a Solar/ wind hybrid Power Plant which will be in line with the Corporation's mandate of ensuring affordable and clean energy that is connected to the National Power grid.
    Under the REREC and Meru County Matching Facility partnership, 92 rural electrification projects have so far been realized at an estimated cost of 45 million Kenya shillings. 33 of these projects are completed while 59 are in progress. The Matching Fund facility is a programme where the Corporation matches contributions from constituencies and counties to a maximum of Kshs. 5million per constituency for implementation of rural electrification projects.
    As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Corporation in partnership with the Meru County Government sponsored free cancer medical and sensitization camp at the Githongo Level 4 Hospital where more than 1000 residents benefited. Meru region is known to have high prevalence of different types of cancers.

  • 5 May, 2021
    Launch of Mweiga Stores

    Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) officially launched the Mweiga stores in Mweiga, Nyeri County on May 6, 2021. ... The construction of the store was to fulfill the need of a storage facility and distribution center for materials that will enhance rural electrification in the region and serve projects in neighbouring regions such as North Eastern, Central, Central Rift and Lower Eastern Regions.
    Construction of the new store, will save the Corporation resources in terms of paying contractors transport mileage, improve service delivery to customers, reduce time taken to implement projects, create business opportunities, enhance security, increase land value and investor prospective.
    Additionally, the Corporation also commissioned three rural electrification projects in Mitero and Bondeni Line Saba that saw at least 1,100 people have access to electricity.
    The event, which considered COVID-19 guidelines, attracted 100 attendees comprising REREC stakeholders; Kenya Power, National Government, REREC Board Members, REREC staff, Media and local representatives.

  • 11 Jan, 2020
    Mitunguu Energy centre
    REREC CEO, CPA Peter Mbugua hands offer letters to members of staff at Mitunguu Energy centre, as REREC gears up to take over the 16 energy centres in the country. Staff of the energy centres will now work under REREC.
  • 11 Jan, 2020
    Tree planting exercise at Pwani University farm
    REREC organised a tree planting exercise for 10,000 tree seedlings at Pwani University farm through a collaborative effort between the Corporation, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and the university. The event was officially launchedat the university and was attended by County Government officials, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) officials, among others.
  • 03 Sep, 2019
    CSR drive with the Garissa Solar Project
    While constructing the 54.6 MW Garisa Solar Project, we also constructed various public amenities for the communities living in the vicinity of the project.
  • 11 Jan, 2020
    Tree plantation drive in Nyeri County with KEFRI
    REREC collaborated with KEFRI and the County Government of Nyeri for a tree plantation drive in Nyeri County to save Gatumbiru, Kirima and Tetu hills.
  • 03 Sep, 2019
    Courtesy call Meru County Governor
    Members of REREC Board of Directors and CEO, CPA. Peter Mbugua during a courtesy call on the Meru County Governor Hon. Kiraitu Murungi. The Corporation is partnering with the County Government of Meru to provide a free medical camp for cancer screening and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
  • 03 Sep, 2019
    Energy Centers
    A management delegation from REREC headquarters led by General Manager, Information, Education & Communication, Dr. Rose Mkalama in group photos with staff from the Kericho, Migori, Kisii, Busia &Bukura (Kakamega) Energy Centres. The staff have been issued with offer letters to transition from the Ministry of Energy-Renewable Department to Rural Electrification & Renewable Energy Corporation.