By Esther Kihanya

Kiambu County is making a bold shift towards sustainable energy by solarizing boreholes to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable access to water.

Through the Department of Water, Environment, Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change, the County has launched a program to solarize all boreholes and cure the problem of unsustainability where community water projects grapple with huge bills and massive amounts of the revenue going towards payment of electricity bills.

“In the past, the county used to drill and equip boreholes then use a motor to pump the water using grid power. My administration is changing this trend by adopting solar power, renewable energy, which aligns with the global climate solutions,” said Governor Kimani Wamatangi.

The journey of adopting solar for boreholes in Kiambu County began at the Kikuyu Municipality where the pilot project was undertaken.

“We have recorded a drastic reduction in power costs by 30–40% at the Kikuyu borehole. Previously, Kikuyu Water and Sanitation Company paid more than KSh 7 million monthly to Kenya Power, but with solarization, this has dropped by over 40%,” said CECM David Kuria

The success at the Kikuyu borehole was replicated at Gathanji borehole where residents enjoy more regular water supply.

“We suffered a lot without water since we could go for even more than two weeks without water supply. I was forced to buy water or fetch from the river, but now we get water frequently because of the solarization,” said a resident, Mbugua Thiong’o.

Governor Wamatangi emphasized the importance of the Gathanji project to the overall wellbeing of the citizens, and for them to lead a more productive life.

“We drilled and solarized the Gathanji borehole to ease the suffering of the community and provide them with sustainable access to clean water. Solar energy makes this affordable and reliable, “ said Governor Wamatangi.

The solarization initiative is expected to reduce the county’s water bill from over KSh 800 million monthly to around KSh 400 million or less. This will free up resources for the county, allowing water companies to invest in expanding water access and other development projects.

Lari, DCC Area Water Project

The adoption of solar energy for boreholes is part of Kiambu’s broader vision of the adoption of green energy solutions across public facilities, including street lighting.

Since Governor Wamatangi assumed office, more than 250,000 residents have been connected to water, raising coverage to 75% across the county.