Two new Coast substations, and what Kilifi and Kwale electricity access looks like
Kenya Power is putting Sh765 million into two substations at the Coast, according to The Star. The company says demand is outrunning existing capacity.
The two projects
The first is a Sh455 million 132/33kV substation at Bomani in Kilifi. It will serve Kikambala, Vipingo, Kanamai and Mtwapa, areas now fed from the Kilifi and Bamburi substations. The Star says Kenya Power is nearing completion. The second is a Sh310 million 33/11kV substation in Kwale with four feeders. It will serve the county headquarters, Kinango, Tiwi and Kombani, and take pressure off the Diani substation. The article gives no completion dates.
What the map shows for the two counties
Kilifi has 27.8% electricity access, which ranks 36th of 47. Kwale has 24.6% and ranks 38th. Both sit below the national 38.7%. Next door, Mombasa reaches 83.4%. The Coast has a gap inside it.
Capacity and access are different problems
A new substation protects the supply of people who already have a connection. It does not by itself raise the share of households connected. Kenya Power describes these projects as capacity and reliability work, driven by industrial and commercial growth spilling out of Mombasa. That is good news for the businesses in Vipingo and Mtwapa. The households in the rest of both counties need a connection programme too.
Connectivity in both counties
Kilifi ranks 26th overall at 46.2, with 30.5% internet use. Kwale ranks 25th at 47.0, with 25.6% internet use. Kwale posts a mobile average of 48.4 Mbps from 3,559 tests, the third fastest on the map. Kilifi averages 37.8 Mbps.
| Measure | Kilifi | Kwale | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity access | 27.8% | 24.6% | 83.4% |
| Internet use | 30.5% | 25.6% | 46.9% |
| Cell towers per 100 km² | 32.2 | 39.7 | 1,973 |
| Composite rank | 26th | 25th | 3rd |
Electricity access is from the 2019 census. Substation details are from The Star, 7 September 2026.
For the full ranking by power, read electricity access by county.
Frequently asked questions
What substations is Kenya Power building at the Coast?
A Sh455 million 132/33kV substation at Bomani in Kilifi County and a Sh310 million 33/11kV substation in Kwale County, together Sh765 million, according to The Star.
What is electricity access in Kilifi and Kwale?
27.8% in Kilifi and 24.6% in Kwale in the 2019 census data on the map, against a national figure of 38.7%.
Explore the data
Open the interactive map or browse all 47 counties. County data is on the data page.