Nyeri village in jubilation after being connected to power first time since independence

A village in Mukurwe-ini constituency, Nyeri county is in jubilation after it received electricity for the first time since the country attained independence.

Christened 'village of darkness' as it has never had electricity since independence, residents of Ndugo village were filled with excitement as it joined other towns that were connected to power.

The area residents could not hide their joy as they witnessed the first power connection in a mud-walled house.

"We never thought that at one time we would be lighting our own houses. The first thing I will do is to install security lights in my homestead because I milk my cows in the middle of the night which has been hectic for me as I use my mulika mwizi when milking," Lucy Mwangi a resident said.

80-year-old Mary Wahome said that she is finally happy after being connected with the world since she will now be able to watch television uninterrupted as she has always desired to be connected to the world.

"Since I was born we have never had electricity here, today is a great day for me as I will watch TV tonight something that I could not enjoy yesterday, many of our neighbouring villages have been taunting us as 'village of darkness' but now not anymore," she said.

Area Member of Parliament (MP) John Kaguchia said that the lighting of the village is part of his office efforts to ensure the constituency's power connection goes beyond the current 58 per cent which is the lowest in the county.

"The area is hilly and very productive but unfortunately it has been a big hindrance for the people to develop as they have not had power since independence these people have never experienced power," Kaguchia said.

He said that within a period of six months, 1,200 families will be connected to power in the first phase, adding that they have already acquired Ksh123 million for the exercise. He also noted that the entire exercise would cost a total of Ksh500 million.

At the same time, the lawmaker assured residents that he intends to ensure that the constituency has 100 per cent connectivity at the end of five years.

"Mukurwe-ini has the lowest power connectivity in Nyeri County and also in the Mt Kenya region at 58 per cent, we plan to connect more people and ensure that we are at 100 per cent in five years," Kaguchia said.

The lawmaker warned residents against being duped by people masquerading as Kenya Power or Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) officials and asking them to pay for connection saying that the exercise is free.