When devolution was introduced after the promulgation of the new constitution, it carried the great promise of bringing services closer to the people. Indeed, counties across Kenya have made commendable strides in health, education, infrastructure and economic empowerment. However, one persistent and growing threat that continues to undermine these efforts is the unsustainable cost of grid-powered electricity, particularly for public utilities like street lighting.
Today, darkness has engulfed towns, trading centres and villages across our country. The once brightly lit streets and pathways that symbolised progress have gone dim, not because counties are unwilling, but because they are grappling with astronomical power bills that have become simply unmanageable. In some counties, unpaid electricity bills have ballooned into hundreds of millions of shillings, forcing power disconnections.
Historically, Kiambu has struggled with unsustainable power bills amounting to close to a billion shillings annually, often leading to significant disruptions due to disconnection from the national grid over unpaid bills.
This situation not only hampers development but also opens the floodgates for insecurity, economic downturns and a reversal of hard-won gains in devolved governance.
This situation calls for introspection and a complete paradigm shift to ensure devolved governments do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. I believe that embracing alternative sources of energy is the way out of this mess. The time has come for counties, and the country as a whole, to adopt a proven, clean and sustainable solution, which is solar street lighting.
Solar energy offers independence, reliability and affordability. Once installed, solar-powered streetlights come with virtually no recurring costs. They operate automatically, switching on at dusk and off at dawn, and require minimal maintenance. Their lifespan stretches to two decades or more. Compare this to the endless mounting bills that come with grid power and the choice become crystal clear.
Under my leadership, Kiambu county has taken the lead in this necessary shift. In our journey to brighten rural trading centres and our urban hubs, my administration made a bold decision to shift to solar.
Today, in all 60 wards of Kiambu, solar streetlights are a visible sign to this change. Residents have warmly welcomed this move, with many expressing their appreciation for safer places and thriving night economies. Another 8,000 solar streetlights will be installed before the end of this year.
By switching to solar power, Kiambu county hopes to eliminate electricity bills and drastically reduce maintenance costs. Solar systems are known for their durability and low maintenance requirements.
Solar-powered streetlights have also enabled us to instal lights even in rural areas that do not have national grid connection.
Recognising the transformative power of solar energy, we have expanded this approach to other critical sectors. Health facilities like Gatundu Level 5 Hospital now have solar backup systems, ensuring essential services such as laundry and sterilisation continue uninterrupted, even during blackouts. Some boreholes are powered by solar.
To make a case for solar energy, our experience reflects global trends. Around the world, countries have embraced solar power. In India, rural electrification programmes have used solar energy to light up entire villages.
In California, the world’s fifth-largest economy, cities are increasingly shifting street lighting to solar to save costs and reduce carbon footprints. Closer to home, countries like Rwanda have successfully deployed solar energy in rural health centres, bringing critical services within reach for millions.
This transition is also a global obligation. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 7 calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. By embracing solar energy, counties will be fulfilling their part in Kenya’s commitment to sustainable development.
From our experience, it is clear solar power is transformative as it eliminates the crippling electricity bills that are slowly choking counties. It provides clean energy, thereby reducing carbon emissions and helping in the fight against climate change. It also ensures reliability, being immune to national grid failures and the constant threat of blackouts. It simplifies maintenance, with modern solar systems requiring little to no attention for many years. Most importantly, it empowers our people by driving a 24-hour economy, which is a desire for many.
Counties must therefore recognise that continuing to depend on grid electricity for public utilities is just unsustainable. Devolution must be about innovation, resilience and smart choices. If we are to achieve the dream of self-sufficient and prosperous devolved units, we must have a paradigm shift in the energy sector.
The writer is the governor of Kiambu county
