In an effort to reduce annual expenditures on electricity with bills running in excess of one billion shillings, the Kiambu County government has implemented a transition from streetlights connected to the national grid to solar-powered units.
The initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on affordable and clean energy by 2030 and could position Kiambu as the first county to significantly rely on renewable energy sources.
At the launch of the “Angaza Kiambu” program in Thika on Thursday, Governor Kimani Wamatangi directed a halt to new electricity-powered streetlight installations and ordered the replacement of existing ones. The launch, which saw over 500 lights switched on, covered Thika Township, Hospital, Kamenu, Ngoliba, and Gatuanyaga wards.
According to Wamatangi, the county government’s annual electricity expenditure exceeds one billion shillings, despite facing disruptions from power outages, disconnections for unpaid bills, and low voltage. Hospitals account for over Sh1.2 billion of this cost, while streetlights cost Sh260 million.
Under the patronage of the Directorate of Public Utilities and Urban and Municipal Administration, the county has procured approximately 12,000 solar lights, which are currently being installed across all sixty wards. The governor has stated that the installation is projected for completion within the current financial year.
Through requests from Members of Parliament, various national government agencies, including the Rural Electrification Authority, Kenya Power, and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) have undertaken the installation of electricity-powered streetlights, thereby devolving the responsibility for associated billing and maintenance to county governments.
High maintenance costs—already totaling Sh50 million in the 2023/24 financial year—are prompting the county to switch to solar streetlights. The current 19,621 grid-connected lights cost Sh260 million annually in electricity, prompting the utilities directorate to only install solar-powered alternatives from now on, according to Acting Chief Officer Virginia Kahonge.
Fully funded by the World Bank and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the project is being implemented by the Kiambu County Government through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.
By Hellen Lunalo