Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized purposive sampling techniques supported by the convenience sampling method within the context of qualitative research to select 30 interviewees of varying demographics for in-depth interviews. Findings: The findings revealed that slums faced various forms of challenges that are attributable to lack of government support, stringent procedures and financial hardship, among others. The study also found that a lack of health education in the slums has resulted in health problems, such as skin diseases, stomach aches, cholera, typhoid and childbirth complications. Research limitations/implications: The outcome of this study cannot be generalized to represent the whole population of slums within context due to the qualitative approach. Practical implications: The study advanced the frontiers of slum literature to understand contextual issues that are important to policymakers and practitioners. Originality/value: This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the challenges confronting slum dwellers in accessing electricity through the perspective of the two-factor theory of motivation.