MPs put energy PS Wachira on the spot over 'ghost' last-mile projects

Energy Principal Secretary  Alex Wachira was yesterday put on the spot by MPs, who accused him of politicising the implementation of the multi-billion-shilling Last Mile Connectivity electricity programme.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the PS was taken to task over what lawmakers termed as the launch of “ghost projects” across the country, noting that a sizeable number of projects under the programme were yet to commence years after they were officially unveiled by the ministry.

The House team raised concern that despite the projects being launched with much fanfare,  contractors especially in the western region abandoned sites shortly after high-profile visits by the President and senior officials.

The issue arose after Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera sought clarification on delays in the implementation of the last mile connectivity programme in western Kenya.

“There is an allegation that the government, and specifically you PS Alex Wachira, have politicised the last-mile connectivity programme. You go somewhere, when the president is visiting, you mobilise all trucks of REREC and Kenya Power Company to show the public that there is some work. And then, as you take to your choppers, the trucks also take off. PS, the members of the National Assembly from the places that you have visited feel that you are directly jeopardising their chances of re-election,” said Nabwera.

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo also questioned the PS over stalled projects in his constituency.

“On the last mile connectivity projects, again, nothing has moved in my constituency and most parts of Busia. What is not happening? You came with the President, I think it was last year or 2024, and launched a project in Nambale with a lot of fanfare, but nothing has moved. Up to now, we have only about 15 or 20 poles that have been erected,” he said.

Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo sought to understand whether funding delays were behind the slow progress.

“You do public participation on these projects and you post it on your page with cameras, wearing reflectors. But then after the public participation, the contractor disappears. Six months, eight months… the question is, how do these contractors come to site if procurement has not been done? Because I believe procurement should be done then the funds are made available,” posed Mugo.

Teso South MP Mary Emase questioned whether procurement inefficiencies were slowing implementation.

“There is an allegation that the slow implementation is attributed to the procurement process, that most of the awards are given to one contractor. So the contractor is overwhelmed because he has to spend time in Siaya, goes to Vihiga, Busia is waiting, Bungoma—how true is that? Can that be rectified so that we see progress on projects, especially those already launched?” she asked.

In his response, Wachira denied claims of launching ghost projects, stating that 1.3 million households had been connected to electricity since President William Ruto took office.

“When this government got into power, the number of electricity connections that were in this country were 8.8 million Kenyans. As at last month, Chair, we had connected 10.1 million Kenyans to electricity. I will be able to furnish this committee with the factual numbers,” said the PS.

“So what I’m saying, Chair, is that when you see us in any place and we say that this project has this kind of allocation, or this county has this kind of allocation, and at the end of that week, we shall have connected a certain number of people, we mean that. Because it is factual. These are projects that we are running,” he added.

Wachira explained that the ministry is implementing different categories of projects under the programme, including those funded by the Government of Kenya and others supported by development partners such as the African Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU).

“For projects under GoK, they are implemented by the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation and that is the reason you are seeing quicker turnaround time. What we have learned is that when REREC goes to the field, it already has procured the materials, so it uses labour and transport contractors,” he explained.

He noted that projects funded by development partners rely on turnkey contractors, a model that has contributed to delays.

“That is where the country is divided into lots, and one contractor is awarded one particular area. And that contractor is supposed to procure the materials and deliver the line to completion. That is where we are now having a challenge,” said Wachira.

He further cited budgetary constraints as a key hurdle but assured MPs that progress would improve following the release of additional funds.

“…for example, this financial year, we were allocated Sh30 billion under AFD-EIB. We exhausted those funds by December. Therefore, we could not pay contractors until last month when we were allowed to access another Sh30 million using Article 223 of the Constitution. We ratified that during the supplementary budget, so now we will ensure a faster turnaround time,” he submitted.