Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi (centre), with his Deputy Rosemary Kirika and other leaders during the launch of Kiambu Solar street lighting project, as part of the urban transformation plan.
By Marion KanariThe County Government of Kiambu has adopted use of renewable energy in all itsoperations effective immediately.Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has declared progressive abandonment of gridpower due to unsustainable power and maintenance bills.In a momentous occasion launching shift to solar street lighting, Governor Wamatangihas reiterated the unsustainable 1.26B annual power bill for streetlights, hospitals, watercompanies, County offices and Fire stations.“While we are not completely disconnecting from the Kenya Power grid, we aim toprogressively transition to solar energy”. Governor Wamatangi.The ambitious program, dubbed “Angaza Kiambu” promises to usher in a new era ofclean and renewable energy in the wake of rising cost of electricity.The Governor has directed all County Departments to solarize all projects going forwardas a measure to align with the global call to urgently reduce carbon emissions.The Governor has challenged Members of the County Assembly and nationalParliament to fast tract policy and enactment of law on renewable energy and zerorating wind power respectively as part of securing a brighter and greener future for theCounty.Majority Leader Godfrrey Mucheke while echoing Wamatangi’s sentiments called onMembers of Parliament to introduce law and policies that support the call to embracerenewable energy.Wamatangi while appealing to all stakeholders to support the shift to solar noted thatGovernment agencies like Kura, Kerra, Kenya Power and REREC have been putting upstreetlights across the County, leaving the burden of bills to the County Government.This he notes has left the County Government with; exorbitant power bills, occasionaldisruptions caused by power outages and disconnections due to unpaid bills.According to the Chief Officer Public Works and Utilities Virginia Kahonge, solarstreetlights have a life span of 20 years as compared to grid connected lights which lasta maximum of 5years; they are less prone to vandalism and insect swarming, reliable,efficient and have minimal maintenance cost.During the event, the governor unveiled 4 containers containing 6,000 solar streetlights,to be installed across the County this month.County Assembly Sectoral Committee Chair Kamenu Ward MCA Peter Mburucommitted to push the passage of the County Supplementary budget which will see theinstallation of the newly launched 6,000 solar lights by September 2024.
The County has 19,621 grid connected streetlights which culminate into an annualpower and maintenance bill of over 260M while 120 hospitals with an estimated annualpower bill of 500M.A cost-benefit analysis of the Riu Nderi borehole in Ondiri Kikuyu, which stronglysupported switching to solar power, shows savings of Ksh.737,244 over eight months,translating to an impressive 24 percent reduction in costs after solarization.County Executive Committee Member RTPWU Mburu Kangethe, while supporting thecall to embrace solar energy also notes that the savings from abandoning grid will beused to improve County infrastructure.Ends………………