Langas Ward Achieves 100% Electricity Connectivity After Decades Without Power
“The smoke from kerosene lamps has affected my health and that of my children for years because of the black soot. Today, I am a happy mother.”
Langas Ward MCA Francis Muya with Yamumbi residents during a stringing exercise under the Last Mile Connectivity Project, which will connect over 300 households to electricity. Photos by Hubzmedia
Langas Ward in Kapseret Sub-County, Uasin Gishu, has finally achieved 100 percent electricity connectivity, marking the end of decades of waiting for hundreds of families who have lived without power since 1968 despite being part of Eldoret Municipality.
The milestone comes as more than 300 households in Yamumbi were connected under the Last Mile Connectivity Project, a Sh30 million rural electrification initiative jointly undertaken by the Uasin Gishu County Government and Kenya Power. The project included the installation of six new transformers and extensive cable stringing, now nearing completion.
Speaking during the official stringing exercise, Langas Ward MCA Francis Muya Mwangi celebrated the breakthrough as a historic moment for residents.
“When I was first elected, no house in this area had electricity. But through the support of the national government, the former defunct local authorities, and now the Uasin Gishu County Government, we have made significant strides. All homes earmarked under the Last Mile project have finally received power at no cost,” said Muya.
According to the MCA, over 95 percent of poles have already been erected, and the final stringing is expected to be completed within two weeks. Kenya Power engineers will then install supply cables and meters to individual homes.
“The project has been fully paid for. Residents only need to finalize wiring inside their houses and purchase tokens. In two weeks, we will officially launch electricity in the area,” Muya added.
Kenya Power’s representative, Noel Miyumo, assured residents of timely completion.
“Our aim is to ensure the project is completed on schedule. Metering will immediately follow wiring. We encourage households yet to finish their internal wiring to do so quickly,” he said.
The news has been met with joy and relief from residents who have lived without electricity for over half a century.
David Mwangi, who has lived in Yamumbi since 1968, could not hide his excitement:
“We have been using kerosene lamps “koroboi” and spending about Sh150 daily on kerosene, which has been very expensive. Lately, I moved to solar power, but it has so many limitations. With electricity, I will be able to buy a chaff cutter, rear better cows that will produce more milk, and that means more money for me. I could also buy a maize shelling machine. This is a dream come true,” he said.
Margaret Wairimu Kimunu, another resident, highlighted both the economic and health impact:
“The smoke from kerosene lamps has affected my health and that of my children for years because of the black soot. Today, I am a happy mother. This electricity means my quality of life and that of my family will improve. For days our phones would remain off due to lack of power, and it takes over four miles to get to Langas Estate just to charge them — which also cost us money. Now we will be connected to the rest of the country. Maybe my husband will even buy us a television,” she said happily.
The story is the same for Kimani Mwangi, a neighbor who explained the struggle with unreliable solar lighting:
“For the last three days, I have not had consistent lighting because I lacked the Sh20 needed to pay for my daily usage of a small solar lamp we call “kamenumenu”because of how it flickers. With electricity, our lives will be transformed. I thank my area MCA Hon. Francis Muya — we have waited for this day for many years. I have already done my house wiring, and in two weeks I will have reliable power in my home,” he said.
This electrification project is part of the government’s wider agenda to achieve universal electricity access across Kenya. According to the Ministry of Energy, over 75% of Kenyans are currently connected to the national grid, with the Last Mile Connectivity Project accelerating progress toward full coverage.
With this achievement, Yamumbi and Langas Ward now join the growing list of rural areas that have finally stepped into the grid-connected era, bringing an end to decades of energy poverty.
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