Introduction
Kiambu County has in recent years experienced steadily rising electricity bills, largely attributed to the growing number of grid-powered streetlights and boreholes across its 60 wards. As urban centers expanded and rural electrification increased, the cost burden of powering public infrastructure through the national grid became increasingly unsustainable.
A significant portion of the County’s revenue has consequently been allocated to electricity payments to support essential services in sectors such as health, water supply, and street lighting. This growing financial burden has constrained resources that could otherwise be invested in critical development priorities, including water expansion, road networks, health facilities, and other community infrastructure. In addition, reliance on grid power exposed service delivery systems to frequent outages. When power interruptions occurred, boreholes became non-operational, disrupting water supply to households, institutions, and businesses.
Beyond cost and reliability challenges, climate change considerations further reinforced the need for a transition to cleaner energy solutions. Grid electricity in Kenya is partly generated from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the EPRA Statistical Report 2024, thermal power plants accounted for 8.42% of total electricity consumed in 2024, with an installed capacity of 627.1 MW.
Against this background, it became clear that a more reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solution was necessary to safeguard service delivery and strengthen the County’s resilience.
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