The ability to charge your phone at home is something many of us take for granted. Yet for millions of Kenyans, this simple act is not possible.
Recently, I was in Naivasha with MPs as they discussed the priorities in their legislative calendar, and their most pressing ask was how to facilitate robust electrification. It was not a surprise to hear that there are constituencies in Kenya where less than 10 percent of households are connected to the national grid.
In such places, the development conversation is very different.
At the weekend, I was in the village attending a function where our MP was present. I was struck when a middle-aged woman spoke passionately about the same issue.
She vehemently told the MP to stop prioritising the construction of more schools or water projects the community wants electricity first.
This illustrates how electricity has become central to every other aspect of development. The quest for power is no longer just about lighting; it is now a matter of inclusion in the modern world. Every human being has a strong desire to seek truth and happiness.
Electronic gadgets, especially communication devices, support this need. With powered gadgets, people can access information that promotes dignity, freedom, opportunity, and full participation in modern life.
Without power, individuals and households are cut off from the digital world that increasingly defines how we learn, work, transact, and relate.
Any parent of teenagers or young adults understands the mood in a home without Wi-Fi. The absence of Internet brings gloom, frustration, and isolation. But beyond inconvenience, a lack of electricity cuts people off from essential services.
Statistics show that more than 99 percent of financial services are transacted through digital channels-from mobile money to online banking. These transactions require powered devices. Anyone without access to electricity is excluded from this economic flow.
E-commerce, which also supports the creative economy, relies on platforms powered by electricity. Artists upload content, traders market products online, and freelancers serve global clients-all enabled by power.
Grid connection is, therefore, not optional; it is imperative for unlocking economic potential. Cottage industries and Jua Kali artisans also need power to operate various machines. Productivity and income rise dramatically once it is available.
Education is another area where electricity transforms lives. Just as irrigation extends farming beyond rainfall, electric light extends learning beyond daylight. Without electricity, students depend solely on natural light, which switches off religiously at around 7pm.
Relationships, too, are now digital. Families stay connected through video calls, messaging apps, and social media. Without power, people live with a constant fear of losing out-on information, opportunities, and connection.
The world today is digital. The government, through Parliament, should treat connecting every household to electricity as a national strategy for inclusion.
An inclusive country is one where citizens are not excluded simply because they live beyond the reach of the grid.
With electricity, we create equitable access to jobs, markets, education, and government services, including opportunities in the international arena. For all Kenyans to thrive in the 21st century, universal access to power must be treated as a priority.