The Kiambu County Government has officially transitioned from grid-connected streetlights to solar-powered alternatives, in a strategic move to curb skyrocketing electricity bills that consume over one billion shillings annually.
The county’s shift to renewable energy aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which seeks to achieve affordable and clean energy by 2030.
Speaking in Thika on Wednesday during the launch of the “Angaza Kiambu” program, Governor Kimani Wamatangi said over 500 solar-powered lights had already been installed in Thika Township, Hospital, Kamenu, Ngoliba and Gatuanyaga wards.
Governor Wamatangi issued a directive halting the installation of new grid-powered streetlights while mandating the replacement of existing ones with solar alternatives.
He noted that frequent power outages, disconnections due to unpaid bills, and low voltages have hampered the county’s services, in addition to excessive costs.
The governor revealed that the county spends over Ksh 1.2 billion annually on electricity for hospitals alone, while streetlights account for Ksh 260 million.
To mitigate this, the Directorate of Public Utilities, in collaboration with Urban and Municipal Administration, has procured nearly 12,000 solar-powered lights that will be installed across all 60 wards.
Wamatangi added that the installations are expected to be completed within the current financial year.
Governor Wamatangi criticized national government agencies such as the Rural Electrification Authority, Kenya Power, and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for installing grid-powered streetlights upon requests by Members of Parliament, leaving county governments to shoulder the heavy costs of maintenance and electricity bills.
Kiambu County currently has 19,621 grid-connected streetlights, resulting in an annual power bill of Sh260 million. To prevent further strain on the county budget, the Directorate of Utilities will only install solar streetlights moving forward.
Acting Chief Officer for Public Works and Utilities Engineer Virginia Kahonge emphasized that maintaining grid-connected streetlights is extremely costly.
She revealed that in the 2023/2024 financial year alone, the county has already spent Ksh 50 million on repairs and maintenance.
