Langas Ward Member of County Assembly Francis Muya Mwangi has revealed that more than 1,500 households in the ward have been connected to electricity through initiatives he has spearheaded since taking office.

Muya said expanding electricity access was among his main priorities when he was elected at the age of 30, noting that many families had struggled for years to secure connections despite making efforts to mobilise resources.

Speaking about his development record, the MCA said residents had previously come together and opened a joint account with Kenya Power in an attempt to raise money for electricity connections, but their efforts did not yield the expected results.

He said upon assuming office, he engaged Kenya Power management to find a lasting solution to the challenge, which eventually saw several households connected to the national electricity grid.

"When I was elected at the age of 30, I knew that my people dearly needed power and electricity. I made a commitment that no matter what, my people had to be connected to electricity," said Muya.

He noted that neighbouring areas, including Lemok and Simat, had already been connected to electricity while several parts of Langas continued experiencing limited access.

The MCA said working closely with Kenya Power officials helped him understand the requirements and develop a strategy to extend electricity connectivity to more households.

Muya further revealed that the installation of six transformers in Yamumbi Farm during the previous financial year had significantly improved electricity distribution in the area.

He said the ward currently had sufficient transformer infrastructure, with the remaining focus being connecting more households through customer maximisation rather than installing additional transformers.

Under the county development funding arrangement, Muya explained that 60 per cent of development funds were allocated to the Governor's flagship projects, while the remaining 40 per cent was distributed equally among the 30 wards, translating to approximately Sh40 million per ward annually.

He said his administration had been implementing projects gradually using the available resources to address the needs of residents.

Beyond electricity, the MCA highlighted investments in water, sanitation, healthcare and economic empowerment, saying the projects were aimed at improving the living standards of ordinary households.

He cited improvements at Gituwe Dispensary, where the facility previously faced challenges in storing medicines that required refrigeration.

According to Muya, the installation of a modern medical refrigerator had helped address the challenge, eliminating the need to transport certain medicines to St. Brigid's facility, approximately two kilometres away, for storage.

He also highlighted the transformation of farming activities in Yamumbi Farm, saying residents who previously relied on manual grass-cutting methods had benefited from improved access to chaff cutters.

The MCA singled out a local innovator identified as Wandae, who has been manufacturing chaff-cutting machines that can utilise used oil, describing such innovations as important in supporting local enterprise and agricultural productivity.

Muya said the developments demonstrated how targeted investments could improve livelihoods, particularly among young people and small-scale farmers.

He also expressed concern over elected leaders who fail to utilise development resources effectively, arguing that MCAs and governors have a responsibility to translate public resources into tangible improvements in people's lives.

"It pains me to see leaders who have been given the opportunity to change the lives of Kenyans but fail to use that opportunity," he said.

Residents hail electricity connections

Residents of Langas Ward have welcomed the expanded electricity connections, saying the development will improve household livelihoods, boost security and create new economic opportunities.

Beneficiary Lilina Njoroge said access to electricity would enable her to establish a home-based business, providing an opportunity to generate income and improve her family's financial stability.

She added that expanded street lighting would enhance security within the neighbourhood, particularly during the night.

Nduta Njega described the electricity connections as the fulfilment of a promise residents had waited for over many years, noting that several families had continued living without electricity despite being located within Eldoret Municipality.

Long-time resident David Mwangi, who has lived in Yamumbi since 1968, said the new connections would enable him to modernise his dairy farming activities and increase household income.

He noted that reliable electricity would make it easier to improve farming operations and explore better ways of managing his agricultural activities.

Margaret Wairimu Kimunu said replacing kerosene lamps with electricity would improve the health and living conditions of families while providing children with a better environment for studying.

Another beneficiary, Kimani Mwangi, said the project had freed residents from depending on expensive and unreliable solar lamps, describing the electricity connection as life-changing.

Residents said universal electricity connectivity, coupled with the ongoing expansion of street lighting and other infrastructure projects, was expected to accelerate urban growth, improve public safety, stimulate businesses and enhance the quality of life across Langas Ward.

Muya thanked the Uasin Gishu County Government, Kenya Power officials and other development stakeholders for their cooperation, maintaining that his ambition was to ensure every household in Langas gained access to electricity.

He said he remained committed to working with other leaders and development partners to address infrastructure challenges and improve service delivery.

The MCA maintained that reliable electricity would play a critical role in supporting education, businesses, farming activities and the broader economic transformation of Langas Ward.